Iraq's Catch-22

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usnews/20041204/ts_usnews/iraqscatch22&cid=926&ncid=1480

<snip>

BAGHDAD--In the computer classroom of a newly opened employment center, a few dozen men in their 30s and 40s wearing jackets against the cold are leaning over keyboards, hunting and pecking their way through word-processing documents. For many, it's the first time they have laid hands on a computer, but any trepidation they have is offset by hopes that the effort will pay off. "I know if I do this, it will help me find a job," says Bashir Mahmoud Alwan, 44, an unemployed mechanic. "We have some job opportunities now; we just need to find them."

Creating jobs is the Catch-22 of present-day Iraq (news - web sites): New jobs are essential to reduce support for the insurgency, but it's difficult to ramp up new jobs as long as the insurgents are staging car bombings, mortar attacks, and kidnappings that scare off foreign investors and block reconstruction projects. More than 100 job applicants register daily at the employment center. "I certainly believe security has affected our work," says Aziz Brahim Khalil, manager of the employment center. "If we can't find a job for them now, we can find training for them. In the future, we can provide people to work in foreign companies."


At least 20 other employment centers are up and running around the country, and there are preparations for business-skills training centers to teach Iraqis how to bid on U.S.-funded reconstruction projects. But right now the largest number of jobs available don't require computer or business skills. Rather, says Ahlam Mahmoud, director of registration at the employment center, they're focused on security needs--jobs as site guards, bodyguards, and police. Alwan, for instance, was offered a job working on police cars on the far side of town, but he turned it down in hopes of earning more once he learns computer skills.


How many? No one really knows the extent of joblessness, but it has created a large pool of potential recruits for the insurgency. Iraqi officials talk of a 60 percent to 80 percent unemployment rate, while U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte offers what seems an unrealistically low estimate of 20 percent. Desperate workers often protest on the streets across the country calling for their old jobs back or for government pensions.

when you can be an "evil doer." <sarcasm mode on today>

left of cool

grinder of American military power... has had an influx of foreigh engineers, security people, reconstruction workers, truck drivers, bus drivers, etc etc etc, whilst a ME country that is at peace... Saudi Arabia has around 30%.

Does "anyone else" see the flaws in Mr. Negreponte's logic? I mean.. if we wholeheartedly support the Saudis, and this is what their people face.... imagine what the Iraqis are thinking, have seen, and are afraid to live with.....

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/030305/2003030513.html
Saudi Arabia's unemployment reaches 30 percent
Saudi Arabia, Economics, 3/5/2003

Saudi Arabia has put out into actual implementation a decision yesterday which bans recruiting foreigners in Jewelry shops in the kingdom with the objective of ensuring job opportunities for its citizens, as unemployment rate in the kingdom reached 30%.

Here is the dirty little secret that Amerika's Neo Fascists have kept hidden from the world.

The Hand-Over That Wasn't: Illegal Orders give the US a Lock on Iraq's Economy
by Antonia Juhasz

Officially, the U.S. occupation of Iraq ended on June 28, 2004. But in reality, the United States is still in charge: Not only do 138,000 troops remain to control the streets, but the "100 Orders" of L. Paul Bremer III remain to control the economy.

These little noticed orders enacted by Bremer, the now-departed head of the now-defunct Coalition Provisional Authority, go to the heart of Bush administration plans in Iraq. They lock in sweeping advantages to American firms, ensuring long-term U.S. economic advantage while guaranteeing few, if any, benefits to the Iraqi people.

The Bremer orders control every aspect of Iraqi life - from the use of car horns to the privatization of state-owned enterprises. Order No. 39 alone does no less than "transition from a … centrally planned economy to a market economy" virtually overnight and by U.S. fiat.

Although many thought that the "end" of the occupation would also mean the end of the orders, on his last day in Iraq Bremer simply transferred authority for the orders to Prime Minister Iyad Allawi - a 30-year exile with close ties to the CIA and British intelligence.

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0805-07.htm


I have been trying to figure out how the Neo Fascists ever thought that Iraq would be a "Democracy" when the three main groups are Sunnis, Shi'ites and Kurds living in fairly distinct areas of the country. Yes, I know there are exceptions to that but the areas are mainly distinct.

At this time these groups would like, for the most part to have the US and UK leave and not colonize Iraq and dictate how the country should be run and who controls the oil. None of the groups wants to be dominated by any of the others. I don't feel that that the US and UK can solve Iraq's problems. I don't feel that the upcoming elections will be solving any problems either because they will be in favor of US Puppet Govt. that is in place now.

Iraq a lost cause: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/1024-02.htm

here, in Amerika... you have a party that may have won the election fair and uninformed.... that for the most part dislikes the other party immensely. Now I ask you.... is this what we are going to do to Iraq? Are we going to pit the haves against the have-nots? Are we going to create a huge cultural divide as we have engineered here? Are we going to fashion the underpinnings of a civil war for them?? Does anyone really believe that we are promoting Iraqi freedom and independance?

What I see is economic colonialism nothing more, nothing less. Shame on the people who act in this manner... while the whole world looks on and shake their collective heads.... pity.

it becomes a third world sweatshop hell hole that we can outsource jobs to! ain't that a bitch

Interesting last paragraph...

~snip~
Virtually all western companies either have pulled out of the country or are based in the heavily fortified Green Zone, where thousands of U.S. administrators and support staff live. More than 170 foreigners were kidnapped in recent months. And many Iraqi employees face threats from insurgents who accuse them of collaborating with U.S.-led forces. (Gunmen on Friday attacked a Baghdad police station, killing 16 policemen, looting weapons, and freeing detainees.) "Intimidation is a very serious issue we face with the workers," Folsom says. "It's something we're going to have to help them with."

but it's NOT ok for Iraq's president to live there; it's NOT ok for the Iraqis to live there...nope, all of the best real estate in Iraq is now the permanent home of the American invaders.

And they wonder why the world hates us reason #100,001.

Iraqis. In Iraq. Working for "foreign companies". In Iraq.

Johnny, Johnny, Johnny...there ya go, just lying your ass off. Again. "20% unemployment". Even your mummy knows that's a bald-faced lie, Johnny.