BB FANS

ITN and the BBC today said they will withdraw their journalists from Iraq if the current kidnapping crisis continues.
guardian

It is worrying. Whether we agree with the war or not but I was reading earlier that Russian contractors were building things for the people (can't remember what it was) ok the Russians were getting money from the project but at the same time they were hiring thousands of Iraq people, men whom have not worked for a long time would have had jobs and money to spend on the Iraq economy now the Russian contractors are walking around Iraq heavily guarded. This goes for many of the contractors. Just doesn't make sense. Surely the people in Iraq if they want the economy to grow and to get jobs then the worse thing to do would be to upset those foreigners who are trying to provide the country with stability and a future.

The thing is Michelle. The Iraqi people want their own building contractors getting the work. Why should they have building firms from all over the world getting the contracts.?

I doubt you would find an Iraqi person still alive who thinks the foreigners in there country want to provide them with a stable future.

The reason they hire foreign contractors is because there isn't really any in Iraq, due to the previous government, none of them have the expertise either, its not like Britain where we have thousands of contractors. Foreigners have to come to Iraq because they have the knowledge, the company, the money and the equipment able to full fill the contact, then what usually happens, have seen this in Africa and in Asia, is that the foreign company trains and hires the people from the country, the workers will get taught better skills, in turn they will become managers and some will leave to become freelance business men and hopefully women as well, who in a few years time will run their own construction companies. Don't forget expensive material would be needed to be bought, hiring of expensive equipment etc many Iraqi's can't even afford 3 meals a day. For the next few years Iraq if they really wish to grow will have to put up with foreigners in their country.

The companies have gone to Iraq on the invitation of America Michelle. When Iraq is at peace, it will be for them to decide who they want to rebuild the country.
If the Iraqi people dont have enough money for 3 meals a day, how will they have the money to pay the foreigners to do the building work.?

Some of the reconstruction is actually being paid by the Americans, so far I think if my figures are correct $20billion has been approved for aid from the American congress and one contractor has been hired for the rebuilding of schools which is estimated at $30 thousand dollars. However the more delays attained by those living in Iraq due to the upheavals the more it will cost to rebuild Iraq.

Money has been given from countries like Canada in Aid, more money has also come from sieze oil revenues roughly $5billion, although some say some of it has mysteriously gone missing in American pockets. Which is supposed to go on the reconstruction of Iraq.

I admit there has been a few unhanded dealings with an American contractor who preferred to hire more cheap Asian labours than the Iraqi, the excuse given that the Iraqi were not to be trusted.

But when reading through the information you will find there is more positive things going on than negative. Many of the firms want to employ Iraqi people, but it is going to take time before the Iraqi people run their own companies and firms. These contractors when they have built the schools will probably leave, leaving the maintenance and knowledge with Iraqi workers they have employed, in a few years time the next school will probably be built by an Iraqi company/firm.

But if the some of violence would stop in Iraq all the construction in Iraq would happen quicker, they are not helping themselves, they are actually putting Iraq few steps back instead of 6 steps forward.

I feel sorry for the Iraqi people, but at the same time if these companies be it from America, France or China, provide jobs, an economy and a future then that is a bit more hopeful. I think what people are against is that the domination of contracts being held by USA.

The sooner the UN get involved the better.

My point is not outside contracts Michelle, my point is the Iraqi people, 'not the Americans' should make the decision on who they want to do any of the rebuilding work.
The UN is a disgrace........