Iraq contractors make billions on the front line

[Canuck_Buck]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Private military contractors are earning billions of dollars in Iraq -- much of it from U.S. taxpayers.[/b]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/06/12/iraq.contractors/index.html

Business is booming for those willing to tackle one of the most dangerous jobs on Earth. Lucrative U.S. government contracts go to firms called on to provide security for projects and personnel -- jobs that in previous conflicts have been done by the military.

The market for private contractors is there thanks to an unprecedented "outsourcing" of conflict, according to Amy Clark, who led the Baghdad end of a small private security contractor.

A year's pay in 3 months
There is plenty of money and plenty of work to go around, much of it taken by Blackwater -- one of the larger companies and perhaps the best known, because tragedy befell its employees in Falluja March 31, 2004. Four employees were killed -- two of their bodies hung from a bridge.
Blackwater was founded in 1997, and business boomed after 9/11. Wartime demands are allowing it to expand even further, and it recently opened new headquarters in North Carolina, where it can train people from the military and law enforcement.

hmmmmmmm a year's pay in 3 months??? would you?

[Tazman]

hmmmmmmm a year's pay in 3 months??? would you?

I may have before I was married and had 6 kids.

There has always been a ton of money for Americans to make in the middle east if you have the right skills.

[Champlain Islander]

An old boos of mine did 2 years in Saudi and said the money was good (at that time it was all tax free) but it was 2 years lost in his life. He said the people were lazy and stupid when it came to technology. He had to live in a compound with no alcohol and didn't get many of the necessities of life as we know it. There weren't any women and you didn't want to get tangled up with one of the local broads. Over there they cut off hands for simple theft so nothing further needs to be said. It wouldn't be worth it to me.

[RedAllison]

As far as U.S. money being paid out, I would rather it go too American companies and workers than a bunch of ungrateful ragheads or "multi-national" (spelled ANTI-American) people.

I have a buddy who has been over there several times, is over there now and probably will continue to go back and forth for a few more years. He was over there with the military when we first went too Iraq. His unit came home then he decided to get into the private security sector(Blackwater I do believe but not sure) and has been over there for 3month stints several times. The money is tax free, and he IS making about a years pay every couple months.

But as for making the $500-$750+ per day, I think most of that is left too guys like himself, former "gungho" military with alot of experience. They are assigned too high security details like U.N. diplomats, U.S. officials and other "high priority" people. If you are some schmoe with little or no military/police or armed security experience I doubt you will get into the bad stuff or make the big bucks. But yes it has been VERY lucrative for my buddy. He was married lastyear and he has already paid for his home, all his cars, toys, is debt free and is now beginning to put it back.

LOL he told me the best part about being private is that they aren't under Geneva Convention rules. They can carry weapons and bullets that are prohibitedtoo our forces. He gives me the "low down" on what bullets work best for self-defense, and which ones work best just for shooting THROUGH stuff and tearing up someone inside...
RA

[Lanse couche couche]

Dunno if its true, but I heard that non-security workers are not allowed to possess weapons during their work tours over there.