Here's how many US troops and private contractors have been sent to Afghanistan
Thomson Reuters
President Donald Trump said he plans to increase the number of US troops in Afghanistan in a speech Monday night, and continue the longest-running war in American history.
Currently, there are about 9,800 US troops stationed in Afghanistan and more than 26,000 contractors.
The Pentagon defines a defense contractor as "any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, or other legal non-federal entity that enters into a contract directly with the DOD to furnish services, supplies, or construction."
This also includes intelligence analysis, translation and interpretation, as well as private-security contractors - who began taking over roles once held by uniformed soldiers after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
The defense industry has also made incredible profits since 2001, including nearly $100 billion in Afghanistan since 2007.
The graphic below compares the number of US troops and defense contractors in Afghanistan over the last decade.
Skye Gould/Business Insider
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