Westerners in Iraq

How much risk are these people at (civillians)?

Every other day their seems to be a new story of some people being kidnapped and beign paraded on tv.

My dad recently got the chance to go to iraq and work in the oil fields but we really dont know if he should go. He would be going to the north of the country near mosul which does seem to have a fair bit of insurgency actuivity.

This all got me thinking about why people put themself at risk by going over their. I tried serching for numbers of westerners in ira but im hopeless when it comes to serching with google. So what im trying to say in my usual long winded way is what do these people gain from kidnapping people then executing them, they must know they will get jack all?

The insurgents gain political cash, they make the situation in iraq unstable and dangerous. That makes the formation of a civil society impossible, stunts the growth of the government there, prevents foreign investment, and makes iraq a generally bad place to be. That in itself is beneficial to them because it creates pressure that is put on the US to leave iraq, afterwhich point the insurgents will take the country over.

Well I can only say that money is good if you are an American working in Iraq with the private firm.

But the risk is great, and being an American will make him a bigger target.

My husband has a co worker that is in Kuwait and he is doing fine, he has been there for a year already but is safer where he is at.

Good, good money.

But it is worth it?

he is brittish, but will taht really make a differance. Don't they just see peopel as westerners?

Yes the money is good, but that is the exact same question we are askign ourself. is it really owrth it...

Originally posted by manta
he is brittish, but will taht really make a differance. Don't they just see peopel as westerners?

It doesn't matter he will be targeted the same if for some reason it happens to be in the insurgent path.

What he needs to find out is what kind of security is available for the him and I imagine that he will be working for an US base company.

Today in the news it was reports that about 14 security guards from a private company has been taken away.

So things are not very safe now more than ever.

Things there are safer than not however.

Remember that the Media concentrates the situation over there; you can't take an event in Northern Iraq, an event in Tikrit, an event in Baghdad, and an event in Basra and say it's happening all where your relative is going...that's just stupid.

But the Media portrays it that way.

There are several things he could definately do to improve his chances I'm sure; avoid abandoned vehicles and dead animals.

When he gets there I'm sure he can ask troops some other tid-bits on what to look out for...but make sure he asks troops that go on patrols and the like and not the ones that barely ever leave the green zone or you'll get a run-around answer that isn't useful.

And Blackwater handles a lot of security there so he can talk to his firm or whatever about getting some of them...they're usually ex-soldiery anyway so are pretty good.

Originally posted by manta
How much risk are these people at (civillians)?

Every other day their seems to be a new story of some people being kidnapped and beign paraded on tv.

Nope, it is rare now. The people who have been caught and killed in the past were mostly ignorant or stupid. They were "soft targets" and easy to snatch. Jesus won't help you here, only Colt and Glock will.

This is a war zone over here. Your dad will be at risk. He will not be driving himself around in the red zone, but escorted by security, and probably not blackwater BTW.

People who come here just for the money don't last long once they get shot at or blown up.

You should be concerned about your Dad, but also proud. I suspect there is a deeper reason why he wants to go.

Hmm I think that westerners should only go to Iraq if they are really, really desperate for the money. After all if it was plain sailing then why are there such huge cash insentives to go there?

Answer: its a job that is really really dangerous. He would be such a massive target there simply because he's an American and one things for sure, doesn't matter how rubbish my pay is at the moment you would never catch me in Iraq for any ammount of money because it is a lawless hell hole with car bombings every day and bodies turning up over the place. Heck it doesn't even have a real governement because the various factions in charge can't agree on a damn thing! It is a real mess and anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a dream land.

Yes I am sure he will get security if he goes there but my uncle visted Iraq for Business reasons and he was escorted around by ex soldiers in armoured SUV's but all it takes is one RPG and in a country like Iraq they are everywhere.

I would suggest your dad find employment in one of there other Gulf states if he is indeed looking for a change of scenery. There are always oppertunities there and the pay is good (addmitedly not as good as Iraq but you don't have the threat of death hanging over you all the time).



[edit on 18-3-2006 by enslaved83]

BTW, I am in Iraq because one September morning I saw on TV two airplanes fly into the WTC.

Most of the people working here do care about the good old USA. I respect the fact that some (most?) people would never consider putting their lives at risk over here and I would not hold your views against you.

The money is very good BTW...

Originally posted by Trunk Monkey
BTW, I am in Iraq because one September morning I saw on TV two airplanes fly into the WTC.

Most of the people working here do care about the good old USA. I respect the fact that some (most?) people would never consider putting their lives at risk over here and I would not hold your views against you.

The money is very good BTW...

Im glad to see that constructive discussion does still exist on these boards and I have no doubt that the money is indeed very good

I admire the fact that you joined up because of the attack on your country and while I don't agree with your presidents handling on the whole WMD or the reasons for the US to be in Iraq I still respect the fact that the soldiers/contractors over in Iraq are making the best of a sh**y situation and trying to do some good.

I think I could only ever see myself in a place like Iraq as a soldier with weapons and firepower at my disposal because I am one of those people who likes to rely on my own skills in everything I do. (My ethos is if you want something done, do it yourself!)

I could never be happy as a civilian over there relying on an ex soldier/serving soldier (no matter how good they are) to protect me!