Should Horse go to Baghdad?

[Whaleboy]

Oerdin.... correct me if I'm wrong but aren't government officials going to be unarmed? If I were a terrorist and not of the brave kind, it would be more sensible to attack an unarmed government official than a soldier.... I'm not saying that you weren't a target when you were out there, but perhaps because you were armed you were safer?

[Dinner]

Originally posted by reds4ever
'the money is good' does not equal 'making a fortune'..BIG difference

Yeah, nobody is making a million dollars and even the high risk security guys (which Horse, as a Government desk wennie, isn't. ) are only making about $300,000 per year. That's $150,000 per 6 month contract.

The KBR guys start off around $80,000 and go up from there depending upon experience and exact position. I know that one of the chicks I worked with got offered $110,000 per year to go back and assist running a government radio station but she backed out when they didn't up the offer to $125,000 per year. As long as you make sure to stay armed and you don't leave post without several other armed people then your only worried are IEDs or the occational mortar. The mortars come at predictable times and are highly inaccurate while the IEDs are less predictable and thus more dangerous.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Whaleboy
Oerdin.... correct me if I'm wrong but aren't government officials going to be unarmed? If I were a terrorist and not of the brave kind, it would be more sensible to attack an unarmed government official than a soldier.... I'm not saying that you weren't a target when you were out there, but perhaps because you were armed you were safer?

You're right. I had a nice Armored Humvee and we traveled around in large packs of soldiers with plenty of machine guns and explosives. It also didn't hurt to know that help was only a radio call away so Horse may have slightly different conditions. Most likely he'd be put up in BIAP or the Green Zone both of which are controlled areas with relatively high security.

There are still Iraqis living and working in those areas so there is the danger of infiltration but by avoiding obvious targets for suicide bombers (there have only been two) and not going out without military escort he should have a risk factor near nil.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
I wouldn't do it. Things are getting so bad there even the media can't go anywhere without military escort.

Yeah but he'd be camped out in the Green Zone or BIAP where the risk is minimal provided sensable precautions are taken.

[Whaleboy]

I had a nice Armored Humvee and we traveled around in large packs of soldiers with plenty of machine guns and explosives

You didn't, by any chance, happen to go to an all boys school? 80 15 year old adolescent runts turning a double-decker bus into a war machine (termed, fondly, the battle bus). Airguns, BB guns pretty much out of every other window, shooting ugly people, or more often than not each other, and of course the infamous "surge". I'll stop reminiscing about my days of bloodshed and detentions .

[dojoboy]

Do NOT go! What could be monetarily gained over a year is a drop in the bucket when measured to what your presence means for your family. If you had dedicated your life to such adventures on the front-end and had no children, then I would say, "Yes." Do NOT go!

[JohnT]

Originally posted by Spiffor
AH is not the breadwinner of the family.

Well, I wasn't going to be the one to embarrass the poor man by saying it.

Good going, Spiffor!

[germanos]

Don't go. It's only getting worse.

secondly: what would you be bringing that the Iraqi's want?

[Kuciwalker]

DL's?

[Monk]

Re: Should Horse go to Baghdad?

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse Should I stay or should I go?

It's a good question, but I have a strong feeling that if you go there will be trouble, and if you stay it will be double.

[pchang]

The wife has spoken

Well, AH, it was nice knowing you.
PS If you do survive, I like red carpets.

[Carolus Rex]

Don't go. Who'd review Bergman's movies for me when you're gone?

Carolus

[Gangerolf]

Probably not worth it.

[Alexander's Horse]

3 Australian soldiers were injured by an IED yesterday, 2 armoured vehicles damaged, 350 metres from the mission.

[germanos]

Oh good! That'll mean you're hazard pay will go up