What are 5 000 South Africans doing in Iraq?

I think this is a very interesting question. Does the state have a right to know if it's citizens are working abroad in a manner which could have political ramifications?
 
They are giving protection services to VIP's, AFAIK they are'nt activly involved in the fighting, their role is more consultation in nature.
 
"What are 5 000 South Africans doing in Iraq?"

Being employed and making money so their families can have food on the table.

oh and to make millions to pay for their families internet conenction in SA ;)
 
I spoke to a guy working in Iraq over the weekend, When I asked him if it was very dangerous his reply was: "Not any more dangerous than working in some areas of South Africa !". Taking into account the amount of people killed in Iraq, and the amount of people murdered over here I see his point.
 
I have many friends over there (all x army) good ppl that could not find work that they were trained to do in the RSA.So what must they do if they cant find work here, and that goes for the blacks that are there as well. But our gvt bitches about that, but they want to sell the Rooivalk to Turkey to oppress the rebellion there
 
ajak said:
I have many friends over there (all x army) good ppl that could not find work that they were trained to do in the RSA.So what must they do if they cant find work here, and that goes for the blacks that are there as well. But our gvt bitches about that, but they want to sell the Rooivalk to Turkey to oppress the rebellion there
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Agreed - we train people to be professional killing machines, and then they aren't allowed to practice their profession - must rather come back here and be homeless? Let them do their job out there - anything that helps secures Iraq, helps secure the Middle East. And that is good for everyone.
 
On the other hand is it not better to used trained mercs to do the dirty work, or give AKs to children. At least an adult has a choice in what they're doing. If there's going to be war, preventing mercs from taking part won't stop it.
At least though, we can now see how the gvt considers it's people since they're now equating us to animals.
"If you keep dangerous animals in your yard, you have responsibility to ensure they don't get out and harm people," Defence Department official Siviwe Njikela told committee members.
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ajak said:
I have many friends over there (all x army) good ppl that could not find work that they were trained to do in the RSA.So what must they do if they cant find work here, and that goes for the blacks that are there as well. But our gvt bitches about that, but they want to sell the Rooivalk to Turkey to oppress the rebellion there
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Agreed 100%, but remember, with mercs the gvt are not making any money, and the lackey;s have no profits to skim funds from in order to buy that new X5
 
Although it might be more dangerous over there, they are getting readily compensated for it. I'd hazard a guess they're being paid between US$6000 - 10 000 a month.
 
Xarog said:
Does the state have a right to know if it's citizens are working abroad in a manner which could have political ramifications?
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That is fine until they get caught in some third world country trying the stage a coup and kept in some piss and lice infested jail and their tearful families appear on the nightly news all pleading for the S.A govt to do something and then they must cut deals and lick the butts of dubious dictators and bail out these stupid dumba$$es.
 
South Africans working overseas are animals

"If you keep dangerous animals in your yard, you have responsibility to ensure they don't get out and harm people," Defence Department official Siviwe Njikela told committee members.

O and by the same token i can say"if you have baboons running your country,you better lookout for yourself.Who the hell does he think he is calling those guys trying to make a living dangerous animals.
 
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It's safer working in Iraq as a merc than living in SA. In SA about 50 ppl are murdered per day. In iraq, which is a semi-war zone, there is only about 15-20 deaths.
Oh, and their broadband would definatly be better! :)
 
SA's Mercenary Business

Remember too, that until recently (or perhaps still?), South Africa had a very active mercenary business, run by Executive Outcomes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Outcomes), our very own mercenary company, which was dissovled in 1999.

Many of the members were ex-fighters in the Angolan war, and the culture of mercenaries has remained to this day.
 
It is not only VIP protection etc south africans are doing there. I know of pilots, and engineers/project managers working there aswell. They earn very well there...
 
My uncle who's an ex cop was there for a while performing as security for some VP. The time he was there was practically right after the US invasion. He was with a group consisting of people from all over the world. He reckons some of the guys in his group were more dangerous than the Iraqi rebel forces. But it was quite dangerous since some of the guys in the group got shot during convoyes into and out of Baghdad. Don't know if it's any safer now.
 
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