U.S. Soldiers Eyeing Lucrative Jobs in Iraq - but Not With the Military

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA202WYNQD.html

TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) - Spc. Thomas Daniels' one-year stint in Iraq as an Army engineer is almost over. But the 24-year-old is already making plans to return - without a gun and, he hopes, with a lot a more money.

Daniels has applied online for construction work with Washington's military contractor in Iraq - Kellogg, Brown & Root - eyeing a job he says will pay more than twice his current salary of around $1,700 a month.

"That's where I am going. It's where I need to be," said Daniels, from Wilmington, Del. "I know I can't stay in the Army. It doesn't pay enough."

Daniels is one of many soldiers at this military base being lured back to Iraq when their term of service ends - not by reenlisting but by taking up private work with companies contracted by the Pentagon.

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[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Enjoy it while you can

Brown and Root will be driven out of Iraq along with the US military.

[donsu]

2. they are killing/maiming contract workers too

this guy should think again

[TXvote]

3. Carlyle Group

has 30,000 operatives in a private company in Saudi Arabia, mostly ex-seals and special forces. They are supposed to be consulting on security for the oil wells, but they were spotted armed on the fields during GW I . I suspect they will do the same thing in the former Iraq. Good background info in "The Iron Triangle"

[Ernesto]

4. Sheeeeeeit

A skilled UNION construction worker can easily make $5k a month right here in the US of A. Spc Daniels needs to "call the hall" when he gets out!

[TacticalPeek]

5. A very, very bad situation for US natsec.

Dyncorp particularly is sapping US military strength and readiness.

Their 'security' bunch is recruiting directly out of the US operator community. Shrub's FUBAR policies are leading to many of these guys not re-upping or taking early retirement.

They have a golden carrot to dangle, namely, $37,500 per quarter, with two months on/one month off, which keeps you just inside the tax-free envelope. Last I heard, anyway. Plus, finder fees for our military personnel who steer them to potential recruits.

Money doesn't talk, it swears, and its undermining our national defense.

[TacticalPeek]

6. Kick night.

[loudnclear]

7. It's about money, not patriotism

Those US companies would do little for the US if they weren't getting huge bucks for it...otherwise they would pay the taxes they owe.

[priller]

8. Isn't it great that privatizing is saving us all that money?

Wow, even though private companies have to pay their guys so much more money than our soldiers to do the same jobs, yet these companies are so much more "efficient" than wasteful old government. It's a miracle of the free market!