Contractors Struggle With New Iraqi Violence

[Robbien]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Faced with more targeted attacks and hostage-taking by Iraqi insurgents, many wary foreign contractors in Iraq said on Thursday they were struggling to do their work as "no-go" areas expanded. Publicly, most contractors repeat U.S. government statements that billions of dollars in reconstruction work is going ahead as planned. But privately they say work is being seriously affected by the surge in violence that has targeted foreign civilians as well as U.S. forces.

"It's a daily, often hourly, assessment in terms of where we can and can't go," said one major contractor, who asked not to be identified for fear of making their staff a target.

Confirming growing danger for foreign workers in Iraq, a Palestinian contractor from Jerusalem working for North Carolina-based company Research Triangle International was abducted on Thursday by Iraqi insurgents. RTI vice president Sally Johnson said the nonprofit firm was working hard to secure his release and told Reuters the company was taking additional measures to tighten security for their other workers in Iraq, including 200 expatriates.

A trade fair planned for Baghdad this week to tout Iraqi business opportunities was canceled because of security concerns and many companies are quietly moving foreign staff to safer, neighboring countries.

http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=848535&tw=wn_wire_story

[LittleApple81]

1. I bet we are still charged by the hour. These people won't let go

until they have used up the 18 billion dollars.

[Corgigal]

2. You over there

Quick, hand me my violin. I hear a song coming on.

[0007]

3. Love to hear it man!

[tedzbear]

5. Poor unfortunates Bechtel and Halliburton...

...their profit margin is being eaten up by security costs. No problem. Just add it to Uncle Sam's bill.


Besides the blood shed, Iraq makes me mad because it's using up the money that should be spent on our domestic programs at home. I've said it once and I'll say it again, we can no longer afford to be the world's policeman. Look what happened to the Soviet Union in the 1980s. Our trillion dollar military budget is not necessary for our safety in this world. In reality, it is a subsidiary for our Fortune 500 multinationals so they don't have to worry about security costs. Meanwhile these same corporations are stabbing the tax payers in the back by outsourcing our jobs to India and China.

:kick:

[anarchy1999]

7. I think you are on it, you've got it.

Sorry, now what? Appreciate you though, more than you know. So glad to have you here and welcome, tedthebear.

[Robbien]

4. What disturbs me is that non-Iraqis

may not travel any where in Iraq without armed guards. This wasn't the case before, during and just after the invasion. Reporters talked about walking around with just a camera man and an interpreter, but security wasn't needed. This slow build up of mercenaries without it being reported until recently is disturbing.

Reading BaghdadBurning's blog, she says that Iraqi women cannot go alone any where now either.

And of course non of this is being reported. Even though they are talking about the mercenaries, they are not saying why they need them and why Baghdad has turned into such a dangerous place.

[daleo]

6. Research Triangle International - I wonder what they research?

"Confirming growing danger for foreign workers in Iraq, a Palestinian contractor from Jerusalem working for North Carolina-based company Research Triangle International was abducted on Thursday by Iraqi insurgents. RTI vice president Sally Johnson said the nonprofit firm was working hard to secure his release and told Reuters the company was taking additional measures to tighten security for their other workers in Iraq, including 200 expatriates."

"RTI enters its second year of work on local governance in Iraq, fostering efficient, transparent, and accountable subnational government that supports the transition to sovereignty."

Rather vague on the webpage, but hired by the Coalition Provisional Authority. Not a popular group to work for these days. The presence of 200 expatriates makes you wonder - Chalabi inspired group?

[anarchy1999]

8. You do not want to know. Dangerous for your health.

n/t

You are not here to ask why, just simply to work. Period.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Surge in violence puts US military off balance, forcing change in troop pl

Surge in violence puts US military off balance, forcing change in troop plan
By Robert Burns, Associated Press, 4/9/2004 03:18


WASHINGTON (AP) The surge in violence by anti-occupation forces in Iraq has thrown the U.S. military off balance, and officials say it is highly likely that Gen. John Abizaid, the war's top commander, will bolster his firepower by keeping more armored forces in Iraq than planned.

All or parts of the 1st Armored Division, which is scheduled to turn over responsibility for the Baghdad area to the 1st Cavalry Division next week and return home after one year in Iraq, is likely to be ordered to stay.

Abizaid said in an interview Thursday in Baghdad with The Washington Post that he is holding all forces in place until he decides how to increase his combat power by about 10,000 soldiers. He said he might achieve that by bringing parts of the 3rd Infantry Division back, or by keeping the 1st Armored. The 3rd Infantry fought the first phase of the war and had been told it would be brought back as early as November.

The flare-up of violence directed at U.S. forces raises questions not only about whether the United States has enough troops there to stabilize the country, but also how many lives it will cost the U.S.-led coalition to regain the initiative on the battlefield.
(snip/...)

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/100/wash/Surge_in_violence_puts_US_mil...