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Networking in the Danger Zone?
Croaker-bg asks: "I currently am an Information Security/ Network Engineer for a large government contract firm and have recently seen several solicitations come across email regarding gigs in the Middle East and surrounding regions, including both Iraq and Afghanistan. Understanding that the pay might be good for being willing to face the hazards, I continue to have my curiosity perked by these short-term jaunts. Lately however, the news of fellow contractors being abducted has put a new spin on the hazards of working abroad in these areas. Has anyone survived such a trip and lived to tell the tale with a fat wallet? If so, would you consider doing it again or is it just to dangerous?"
Many of us in the military, especially the one's seperating from the military, are getting these same offers. Its definitely tempting to some of these guys but all of them passed on it. Who wants to go do their same job that they were doing in the military and not have at least some sort of self protection, ie. M16, M9 pistol, squad of Marines behind you......
see this gallery of a contractor's 1year stint in afghanistan.
http://www.darchiver.com/gallery/Vince
well, some personal pics in there as well. skip those.
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I know of several former coworkers who are there right now. You can chech out two of their websites here and here. I have been approached by these companies as well, and my expedited passport ($188.00) should be here next week. $120K/yr is too enticing for me to pass this up. Additionally, if you're doing IT work and are worried about danger, pick Kuwait as it is the safest environment. I'm married with two kids, and this certainly seems like a good option for mom to finally have a house. Keep in mind that the captured contractors mostly put themselves in danger by being in open public areas... IT guys are very well protected, probably because they are required to have an active secret clearance.
I recently got back from Kosovo (though I was there with the Army, not a contractor unfortunately). It's safe enough to hang out in town during the days, and the pay is still pretty good. It was rumored that some Brown & Root employees were making $80k for sitting in a watch tower. I'm sure IT guys would bank better than that.
As far as the Middle East, I think you could remain pretty safe if you just kept to yourself and didn't do too much playing around outside of the base.
On a related note, I would like to see a comparison of the daily murder rate in Iraq compared to the daily murder rate for an inner-city such as, oh, let's say Detroit. Granted, beheading is a bit worse than a drive-by, but it's not like it's an every-day thing.
Easy. The al-Anbar province, and what you in America know as the "Sunni Triangle". This is an area where you're likely to be kidnapped based on the color of your skin, and the dress you wear. (There's also a danger of kidnapping just because you look rich--nothing political, just for money.) Generally, the Turkomen and Kurdish areas are safe, as are places controlled by Falah al-Naqib. (Perhaps you recognize the name--he's the Interior minister.)
Was your question about the "front lines" serious, or some sort of display of ignorance?
This American Life (on NPR) ran a pretty good documentary on this subject a few weeks back. It's available in Realaudio format on the web. It's an hour long though. The archive page is Here. Or go to the audio directly.
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Sorry bud, Johannesburg does not count as a dangerous working environment. Its the same like working in LA - the burbs are much removed from the ghetto.
I say this having been born in south africa, living in Johannesburg, working in malaysia, and living now in LA.
It's not all that bad, its a lot of territory, the media focuses on the glaring horror stories. I 've been on 2 tours as a contractor in direct support of ground forces, and have been just about everywhere in the theater, Iraq and Afghanistan. My first tour was during the initial ground war, and I travelled with the troops all the way to Tikrit, 2nd tour I was based out of kuwait and travelled as required, to Falluga, Baghdad, and Afghanistan. I would definately recommend the Kuwait tour. Good network and I was able to do most work over the net.
Afghanistan: The Kabul/Bagram area are relatively safe. Occasional bombings and shootings sound worse in the media than is perceived locally. Locals don't see you as a target. Resist the temptation to see the rest of the country, and you'll be fine. Heroin use among foreign rear echelon motherfuckers is 'way up... do avoid that.
Kuwait: basically safe, but events in Iraq and SA will continue increase tensions. Do as you would in most poor nations (which Kuwait is not) and try not to stand out. Do a year or two and call it a day.
Bahrain: more of a disconnect between rulers and ruled than Kuwait. Looks good compared to SA, Iraq, Afghan.
Qatar & UAE: Looks good. Act conservatively, as has been the case in the Gulf all along. If SA goes down the shitter, there will be spill over, but at least you'll have plenty of warning.
Saudi: things are going to get worse before they get better. Do not take your family, as you'll be forced to live in a foreign compound. If at all posible, live in well off but Arab-heavy apartment complexes or developments. Make a habit of varying your routine outside of the office. Have in mind an alternate exit from said office.
Iraq: If you're lucky enough to work AND live strictly within the occupation authority's green zone in downtown Baghdad, knock yourself out. Keep in mind that that zone will be shrinking considerably over the next 12 months into a still huge US Embassy, so make sure you don't get stuck outside with a housing allowance and a pat on the back. For the less risk adverse, 24x7 at one of the bigger military bases is a consideration. Next down the list is Metro Basra as long as the Badr (as opposed to Sadr) militia and it's political front stay happy. Ditto with the Kurdish areas, which aren't much worse than eastern Turkey. Pass on Mosul, Kirkuk, and the whole rest of the country. If you're going to be driving anywhere, for God's sake opt for small, cheap sedans. Big sedans are begging to be car jacked, and SUVs broadcast "USA" like a HUMMV.
Iran: I throw this in for contrast. If a US citizen/resident alien, your biggest problem will be explaining yourself to Uncle Sam. Consult with an attorney to make darn sure you aren't in conflict with US economic restrictions on trade with Iran before you go. Don't hit on local women, bad mouth Islam or the government, or take pictures of any thing that even resembles a government or military installation. In fact, this is more of a normal overseas posting, so it's not nearly as lucrative. There are some up to date tourist guide books on the country, and good poop from the British and Australian Embassy web sites.
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Here's one place you can look, the FEDZ official job site, USAJOBS (OPM = US Office of Personnel Management). You can input a resume, search for jobs, &/or set up search agents. One program relating to this topic is SOFIA (Support Our Friends in Iraq and Afghanistan.)
Argentina and Chile are pretty benign. It's a little nastier in the Central american area, Colombia probably being the worst, with Guatemala and Nicaragua behind.
.38 revolver sitting outside my front door and walking me across the street to the schoolbus. The general next door to us had *two* guards with machine guns.
When I was younger (77-82) I lived in Panama, then Colombia. Panama had the Canal Zone back then and that was completely safe. Bogota on the other hand was not. Within one month of living there, our house was burglarized (while we were out for lunch) and had thousands of dollars of jewelry, cameras, and electronics taken. Oh, and a loaded 9mm.
After that the embassy posted a 24hr armed guard on my doorstep. For every day of the next two years I had some guy in a uniform with a
About 6 months later (and a few hundred miles away) we had our van broken into and more stuff taken including *another* pistol.
Most of the vehicles that the Embassy used or loaned out there had bullet-proof inserts behind the windows. Most of the moderate to high ranked Colombian officials had similar vehicles as well.
I'd still like to go back and visit again someday, but would feel rather leery staying more than say a week or so. Iraq may be worse for more personal attacks, but Central America is still pretty high risk in several of the countries. But there are many that are probably fairly safe.. I just haven't kept track of which lately. For the latest, you should check out the travel warnings put out by the US Department of State...
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Yes, because as we all know, Halliburton is in Iraq to establish a better way of life for Iraqis, not because of the huge no-bid contracts that were coordinated by ex-CEO and now Vice Predident Dick Cheney.
Pardon me if I fail to see the humanitarian intentions of an oil company with close - possibly criminal - ties to the administration.