Iraq, how dangerous is it?

ARGINITE

Its a very general question and I would appreciate any information on the subject that you can give me, all the better if you have been their and bought the t-shirt.

So, how dangerous is Iraq for an outside contractor?

I am asking this question as currently my little brother is working over in Dubai and is thinking of applying for a job as a project manager in Iraq [not sure of what part of Iraq], I am trying to talk him out of it as I think it is a very bad idea.

Leadership

It can be quite safe if you are in the green zone or working within a hardened compound and not travelling by road daily. Once you leave a compound then the risks increase and the risks go up again depending on the area.

The key questions I would ask would be:

• Where is it
• Is it a static job
• Detail on the compound protection and the construction - Some compounds have serious flaws in their construction. As a minimum in a town or city a hesco bastion perimeter filled with hardcore plus some form of overhead protection. Some rural locations only have a wire fence and that could be ok depending on the area
• Who provides the protection (if any) - I would rather be protected by the boy scouts rather than some of the useless private companies operating in Iraq.

The money is obviously the big draw, I went out for a short time to complete an interview process and turned down the position in the end due to the risks and my questions not being satisfied. Saying that many of my ex military colleagues are over there now and they call it easy money.

ARGINITE

Once you leave a compound then the risks increase and the risks go up again depending on the area.

The nature of his work would require him to leave the compound I think.

The money is the big draw for him as you said, thanks for those questions they seems like very important things to ask before thinking about excepting a job their.

helimachoptor

ARGINITE, can you tell us what he is going to be doing over there?

ARGINITE

Currently he is working as a projector manager, managing a number of large building sites in Dubai [hotels, villas, etc]. So I guess he would be doing a similar job in Iraq.

I can't answer the question really as he is only thinking about it at the moment and if at all possible I will be able to talk him out of it.

helimachoptor

Thanks ARGINITE, just from my own experience, a girl I used to work with ended up leaving to go sell cars to the US armed forces in Iraq, she was there 2 years, in that time she took 3 trips outside the green zone in massively armed convoys. There were some attacks while she was there btu she was never hurt.

Best of luck to your bro if you fail to get him to change his mind.

ARGINITE

Thanks helimachoptor.

youcrazyjesus!

Iraq is a much safer place now. Obviously not completely safe but safe enough for the money to justify the risk. However on moral grounds I wouldn't go. It's also liable to deteriorate rapidly at any stage.

ARGINITE

It's also liable to deteriorate rapidly at any stage.

Ya some thing else to worry about.

Manic Moran

How much has Iraq been in the news of late? Not much, other than that one large bomb last week, it's settled down quite a bit. Obviously he needs to avoid doing stupid things like going out and about on his own, but he should be safe enough. Of course, safety can never be guaranteed, and it comes down to 'Just how much is that money worth to you?'

What's his medical coverage plan like?

NTM

ARGINITE

Manic Moran, from reading some of your other posts I see you have been their and come back in one piece.

How safe would it be if you only left the compound in a convey?

[I know a lot depends on what part of the country you are in and also who is guarding the convoy, but I would like to hear your opinion on it please]

Manic Moran

It helps that I went and came back packing everything from a 120mm cannon through a sidearm. However, my personal experience is now some four years old, I returned from Iraq in March 2005. I have absolutely no doubt that the Iraq of today has very little resemblance to the Iraq I experienced.

To that end, really, it comes down to just who is it he's working for, who it is he's going out and about with, and what he's expected to be doing. As a Westerner, I'd be very leery of going out and about as a group of two or three unarmed businessmen unless I was up North in the Kurdish areas.

NTM

ARGINITE

Thanks for the reply MM.

the_syco

Blackwater has gotten it's marching orders, it seems (Iraq has barred them). Not sure where the other security firms get their people from, but Blackwater seemed to favour ex-miltary. Find out what security firm would be protecting him, and also where he will be located.

Not sure about the US military. Heard word that they'll be retreating to their "desert bases", in other words, moving from their bases within the cities to bases down the road. How this would effect security within the city is unknown (Iraqi police would then be in charge). That, coupled with the change in command in the US military, and Blackwater no longer being there may change how you can look at how safe it may be in Iraq.

Finally, google the companys name, and Iraq, and check out has there been any ransom demands made to it since the invasion?