Reply to: Would You Take A Contract In Iraq?

[gooddayall]

You probably are nuts.... or possibly just paranoid!

I thought men that are seeing primarily "guys" were more polite ?

But yes I am paranoid. Perhaps it is because I have only one life.

[Olly]

Drewster my old chum....I'm very happy you feel safe there. I did too except possibly when considering the feckin awful driving there!

I also found them really nice people by and large even when they were holding parties and celebrating 9.11

BUT.....

Our compound was attacked, people were killed.
Myself and a friend were run off the road by zealots in their 4x4 (it was NOT a road range incident)

[Drewster]

I was desperate for a contract but rejected an offer in Saudi. Accommodation didn't seem sorted well
............... gibberish...........
I'd be nuts very soon.

You are correct - you always need to ensure you get accommodation sorted "up front".... be it Hotel (short term), Serviced Appt... or Ex-pat Compound.

In my experience Saudis are very polite and respectful people and I have had absolutely no antagonism or bad feeling towards me at all....
From guys I work with...
From guys I meet in the street...
From guys in the Hotel....

In Jeddah I have wandered alone through dark and dingy little alleys in the pitch dark and never even felt slightly threatened..... (In my home town there are areas of the City centre where I wouldn't walk alone at night let alone dark underpasses etc on the outskirts)....

You probably are nuts.... or possibly just paranoid!

[gooddayall]

and a great wine bar / pub culture. Truly world class!!!

P.S. Saudi and Dubai yes (did 18mnths at the former), Iran possibly, Iraq, Afghanistan probably not, but for mega bucks I could be persuaded I'm sure

P.P.S. By mega bucks I'd be talking £800 a day + expenses - double a good UK rate for what I do....that would cover me for Saudi.
Hmm...Iraq...£1K a day + expenses.

I was desperate for a contract but rejected an offer in Saudi. Accommodation didn't seem sorted well.

The company had westerners , even an englishman I believe. However I could have ended up living in a serviced apartment , along local arabic neighborhoods (even temporarily) . I imagined evenings in such an apartment, overhearing through the wall evening get-togethers of my neighbors.

Arabic Voice 1: Evening mates , how was your week ! ( I'd be hearing: Hey bro , where the fack have you been , we got a new white arrival here , just the thing we needed for that job we wanted to do

Arabic Voice 2: Evening , it was a great week , I had a promotion and my wife is feeling better now... ( I'd be hearing: Finally what we needed ! Here is the plan , we get him tomorrow and start sending pieces of his body to the English council , until they release our friend )

I'd be nuts very soon.

[HairyArsedBloke]

Hmm...Iraq...£1K a day + expenses.

Joey get's that in the City of London.

[Olly]

And easy access to women.

and a great wine bar / pub culture. Truly world class!!!

P.S. Saudi and Dubai yes (did 18mnths at the former), Iran possibly, Iraq, Afghanistan probably not, but for mega bucks I could be persuaded I'm sure

P.P.S. By mega bucks I'd be talking £800 a day + expenses - double a good UK rate for what I do....that would cover me for Saudi.
Hmm...Iraq...£1K a day + expenses.

[gooddayall]

Absolutely. The only thing in common between them all is lovely ice-cream and wonderful cakes.

And easy access to women.

[threaded]

Before asking such questions I would suggest doing some research into these countries other than reading the headlines in the Sun and Daily Mail.

Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Iraq and Iran are very different from each other. What countries do you mean by etc?

Absolutely. The only thing in common between them all is lovely ice-cream and wonderful cakes.

[Paddy]

Or Iran or Saudi/Dubai etc....

Are there any sites offering contracts in dodgy locations?...or does Jobserve cover that?

But really would you put your life on the line for a job in downtown Basrah?

Before asking such questions I would suggest doing some research into these countries other than reading the headlines in the Sun and Daily Mail.

Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Iraq and Iran are very different from each other. What countries do you mean by etc?

[MarillionFan]

No.

Got offered one three years ago and turned it down flat.

[escapeUK]

I would for sure but I don't have any dependencies so only have to worry about me. It would have to be a monster rate but what an experience that would be to remember for ever more.

Especially if you came back alive but with no legs.

No, I wouldnt. Never in a million years.

[Drewster]

Iran, yes. Saudi, It would have to be a very good rate, Dubai no.

Despite what you imply, Iran is a pretty safe place to work. I'd be more worried in Saudi.

However, I'd rather run around in a G W Bush mask in Baghdad than spend more than half an hour in Dubai. It's worse than Torremolinos was in the 70's.

Why?

[Drewster]

Or Iran or Saudi/Dubai etc....

Are there any sites offering contracts in dodgy locations?...or does Jobserve cover that?

But really would you put your life on the line for a job in downtown Basrah?

Saudi -

Jobserve does have them.... But mine was via Personal Contacts

Don't fancy Basrah

[northernladuk]

I would for sure but I don't have any dependencies so only have to worry about me. It would have to be a monster rate but what an experience that would be to remember for ever more.

To be fair we hear about the odd kidnapping and roadside bomb. Try and weight those up against the 10's of thousands of people working out there. Depending where you are a quick trip around the M25 and in to London could be more dangerous.

[dspsyssts]

I guess Peter Moore is still in peoples memories.

One line of thought is to do an Iraq contract and be armed to the teeth, ie nobody uninvited is breaking down my hotel door unless without me unloading an AK47 in their direction. But the obverse of that argument is that because Peter wasn't armed he was viewed as a 'civilian' and eventually freed.

Wonder what his daily rate was?!...feel for the guy, must have been hell, expect he will write a book about it all.