Contractors' Risks, Costs High in Iraq

[Barrett808]

Contractors' Risks, Costs High in Iraq
Paul Richter Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — For the businessmen who flocked to a government conference this month to learn how they might bid on Iraq contracts, the word from some who had been on the ground was sobering.

...

"Everybody's worried about this security issue," said Robert Fardi, vice president of Amira Group, which is expanding its business in Iraq but struggling with partners who are unwilling to enter the country. "There are still lots of people who want to take the risk. But it's frightening, absolutely frightening."

...

Halliburton subsidiary KBR, formerly Kellogg, Brown & Root, said two of its employees and six subcontract employees have been killed and four subcontract workers are classified as "missing."

...

Despite such protections, insurgents can lob mortar shells into these modern Ft. Apaches or pick off individual workers in sniper attacks.

One U.S. contractor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said his company realized belatedly that it was a mistake to allow employees to go outside during lunchtime to use the bathroom. A sniper invariably rained fire on the camp during the bathroom breaks.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimes_ts/20031225/ts_latimes/contractorsriskscostshighiniraq&cid=2026&ncid=1480

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Its like living in bizarro world...

.....

[Cocoa]

2. they are the true heroes

let's hear it for the brave profiteers. :toast:

[Robb]

3. LOL!

Good one! Yeah, like suddenly we're supposed to feel sorry for the people making money off the blood of US and Iraqi soldiers alike? :eyes:

[spinbaby]

9. It's not that simple

The profiteers are safely in the U.S. The guys getting shot at are often people who decided to take on the job because they couldn't get a decent job at home and thought this would be a way to get ahead.

[mbperrin]

10. They need to think a little harder!

nt

[pinto]

4. in anyone's memory have we ever fielded such a corporate/military

joint campaign as this? The sugar plantation/mining CIA operations in S America come to mind. But when I step back from the picture of Iraq, it is truly boggling.

[IndianaGreen]

5. Corporations only care about profits

As long as they are making money, they don't care if their workers are getting killed.

[bvar22]

7. nor do they care about...

...how many of the local population their workers have to kill.

[Barrett808]

6. Ted Rall: The Hero of Halliburton Hill

http://www.workingforchange.com/comic.cfm?itemid=15464

[mbperrin]

8. "No Cash Left Behind" program seems to be working!!!

nt

[cliss]

11. I wonder how much "profit" there really is

in Iraq. This is not low-hanging fruit. The US opened up Iraq to the highest bidder a while back, and then jealously kept the 'Sweet Deals' for its buddies only, like Poland, Spain and England.

What's so good about these contracts? I'm assuming here that we're talking about building bridges, hospitals, hotels and restaurants.

So Taco Bell gets a contract to go in and build some fast food joints in Baghdad. Just imagine how much they would have to pay the contractors. I've read that Bechtel employees make $200,000 per year. And I would demand a big life insurance policy. Imagine the liability insurance these companies must pay. I'm not sure there are any insurers that would even write up a policy for them. And the people who would "volunteer" for these lucrative jobs? Who would do it?

I have a feeling that these contracts are 'radioactive' right now, until the situation stabilizes. This is just political posturing and "hot air".

It's all bull crap.