25-10-2004 10:18									#61
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quote: Originally posted by Alexander's Horse Pleased that poll is heading in the right direction

Dammit, I want my carpet!

	25-10-2004 10:25									#62
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bring me back a carpetmuncher.

	25-10-2004 10:39									#63
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I wouldn't do it. Things are getting so bad there even the media can't go anywhere without military escort.

	25-10-2004 10:48									#64
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Your kids are young. You'd be nuts to go.

	25-10-2004 10:52									#65
	Re: Should Horse go to Baghdad? Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

quote: Originally posted by Alexander's Horse I have the opportunity to apply for a senior position with my government in Baghdad. Its for 12 months with an option to extend, stay as long as you like I suspect! The appointment would be career enhancing and the money is good but it could of course be life threatening. That's a real lottery. I would leave the family behind in Australia for the duration. That would be tough. Should I stay or should I go?

If you were younger (say in your twenties) and childless, I would say yes, but now as you're older and more experienced, you surely realize that there are ways to have career-enhancing and well-paying careers that do not put your family in the position of having the breadwinner killed. Sans kids I would be like "what the hell - go for it. See if you could take your wife.", but now... you have a family that needs you more than you need a career-enhancement.

	25-10-2004 10:55									#66
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quote: Originally posted by DanS I thought Wiglaf was one of AH's DLs.

No, he's Eroberor's. Or possibly Red Trotskyite.

	25-10-2004 15:44									#67
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quote: 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.

Isn't AH a "connected" government official? If he's even considering going, perhaps that says something about the reports you're reading.

	25-10-2004 15:57									#68
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AH is not the breadwinner of the family.

But even so: family vote is where it's at

	25-10-2004 16:08									#69
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A family is NOT a democracy.

	25-10-2004 16:10									#70
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quote: Originally posted by Spiffor AH is not the breadwinner of the family. But even so: family vote is where it's at

Yeah, but the opposition leader has already cast her vote.

Not sure if AH really wants to take the risk and bring the vote up in the house.

	25-10-2004 16:11									#71
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I wouldn't go so I voted that you're mad (nothing wrong with being mad, just don't take it too far ).

If it's money, do something other than work for the government.

If you have a deathwish find a way of fulfilling it that leaves your family financially secure.

If you really want to be on TV apply to be on one of those tacky gameshows, not Al-Jazeera.

	25-10-2004 16:25									#72
	Remove this text

I need a carpet.

	25-10-2004 17:00									#73
	Re: Should Horse go to Baghdad? Put an end to popups!

quote: Originally posted by Alexander's Horse I have the opportunity to apply for a senior position with my government in Baghdad. Its for 12 months with an option to extend, stay as long as you like I suspect! The appointment would be career enhancing and the money is good but it could of course be life threatening. That's a real lottery. I would leave the family behind in Australia for the duration. That would be tough. Should I stay or should I go?

Horse,

Take it from someone who's been to Baghdad that it isn't really that dangerous. It can be dangerous if you aren't careful off of post but since the Australians mostly stay on post you shouldn't have any trouble. I believe most of the Australians are posted near Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) with a small political detachment in the Green Zone both of those areas are safe if you take common sense measures such as avoiding restaurants and markets are peak times, etc...

Personally, I'd say go for it.

	25-10-2004 17:01									#74
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quote: Originally posted by Last Conformist I need a carpet.

Buy a goat and a loom.

	25-10-2004 17:12									#75
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Yeh don't leave your family behind, be smart and stay home. I should think even the risk that they'd lose you is enough for you to stay home. Let the unloved die in war!! Also think of the amount of unnecessary glory Markos would get if you get kidnapped... this'd be the most popular site on the internet!!

	25-10-2004 17:15									#76
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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?

	25-10-2004 17:16									#77
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quote: 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.

	25-10-2004 17:20									#78
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quote: 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.

	25-10-2004 17:39									#79
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quote: 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.

	25-10-2004 17:44									#80
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quote: 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 .

	25-10-2004 17:50									#81
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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!

	25-10-2004 17:57									#82
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quote: 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!

	25-10-2004 19:27									#83
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Don't go. It's only getting worse.

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

	25-10-2004 21:13									#84
	Got spare money?

DL's?

	25-10-2004 21:42									#85
	Re: Should Horse go to Baghdad? Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

quote: 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.

	25-10-2004 23:09									#86
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Well, AH, it was nice knowing you.
PS If you do survive, I like red carpets.

	26-10-2004 02:08									#87
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Don't go. Who'd review Bergman's movies for me when you're gone?

Carolus

	26-10-2004 02:35									#88
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Probably not worth it.

	26-10-2004 02:49									#89
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3 Australian soldiers were injured by an IED yesterday, 2 armoured vehicles damaged, 350 metres from the mission.

	26-10-2004 03:01									#90
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Oh good! That'll mean you're hazard pay will go up