WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- If private military and security contractors are motivated by patriotism, as well as by the mighty dollar, they should welcome oversight of the way the government spends taxpayers' money. Besides, if you take the king's shilling, you must take the king's auditor, too.

Contractors frequently say, when asked why they voluntarily choose to work in conflict zones, that they are motivated by feelings of patriotism, just like their counterparts in the regular military. And no doubt, many of them are. After all, many of them spent years in the military. It is hard to do that and not come away with ideas of service and defense of the country ingrained in you.

Still, we need to be honest here. Contractors do this work for the same reason Willie Sutton robbed banks, because that is where the money is. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar. And anyone who believes it is a fool.

In the end it is, as Cuba Gooding so memorably pointed out to Tom Cruise, all about showing the money.

Not that there is anything wrong with that. In a capitalist society it is foolish to expect people to voluntarily risk serious wounds or death, when they are not in the regular military, on the basis of love of country.