Monthly archives: November, 2007

As most of you gits know. My brother is an IT guy, he does some pretty cool things with VOIP (Voice Over IP) and has been offered the opportunity to do the same in service as a civilian contractor…in IRAQ!!! My brother has some new goals (it seems to have creeped into both of us considering what I am planning for next year too), and in all truth, this little tour would set him at least five years ahead.

The Pros:
The money is INSANE…I mean so much that you totally disregard the fact that you’re going to a war zone to work.
The bennies are INSANE…so much that you again disregard the fact that you’re going to be in a war zone.

The Cons:
Umm…it’s a war zone. A place where Americans are intruders at best, and already in someone’s cross-hairs at worst. This is where I draw the line.
I have absolutely no desire to survive my brother. The tragedy will be far too great, and quite honestly, I don’t know if I keep what little serenity I have if losing someone that close.

What’s my opinion?

You wave $300k in someone’s face, they will do whatever the hell you want…usually without batting an eyelash. They will bat their eyelashes exactly twice if you’re asking them to risk life, but not asking them to do anything illegal. Two bats of an eyelash later….you’re in Iraq. I don’t want him to do it. I am tempted to sign on with him to make sure he’s stays okay, and I am honestly considering finding alternative methods of facilitating my brother’s business with my own $$$ just to get him to stay (not that any meager amounts of my own money would compare.) This whole thing has stressed me out to be truthful, I even took a half day off of work today to get my head clear and back on target (as much as someone with the attention span of a spastic monkey gets on track).

Anyhow, I have other shit to write about too that I need to vent so I will end this for now. Ciao!

-Tony