Latin Americans Voluntarily Go To Iraq As Security Guards

[Bobbieo]

From Page 19 of today’s Arizona Republic - Tyler Bridges – McClatchy Newspapers

While a growing number of Americans clamor to bring the troops home, many Latin Americans are willing to head for Iraq for a $1,000 a month.

“Peruvians guard the outer perimeter of a U.S. installation in Basra. Chileans protect the Green Zone in Baghdad. Hondurans have provided security within the terminal at Baghdad. International Airport, etc.”

Anyone have a link. I’m not good at this link stuff and this is important news. Makes one realize where the manpower for private security guards is coming from and puts a new face on the Civil War in Iraq.

[Bobbieo]

1. Also makes one wonder if they will end up in the U.S.

as part of Bush's Martial Law troops if he enacts his Security Directives.

[Judi Lynn]

2. This appeared in the Miami Herald recently: Latin American hired guns shrug off Iraq War risks for

Latin American hired guns shrug off Iraq War risks for payday
Thousands of Latin Americans have gone to Iraq to work for U.S.-based security companies.
Posted on Wed, Aug. 01, 2007




Gregorio Calixto, 27, recovers in Peru after suffering wounds in Iraq while working as a security guard -- but the wages allowed him to buy a home.
TYLER BRIDGES/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

BY TYLER BRIDGES
[e-mail]


LIMA -- Tired of subsisting by selling cigarettes on the street, Gregorio Calixto jumped at the chance last fall to earn $1,000 a month working for a U.S.-based security company in Iraq.

The former Peruvian army sergeant is only one of many Latin Americans who have gone to Iraq to work for security firms -- most of them based in the United States -- that now employ 6,000 to 10,000 men from around the world, according to news accounts.

The Latin Americans typically served in the military back home -- many fought leftist guerrillas in places like El Salvador and Colombia -- and were taught by U.S. instructors, making it easier for them to use U.S. weapons and work under American security procedures.

But after leaving their armed forces, these soldiers found themselves in low-paying jobs. So they agreed to risk injury or death in Iraq for $1,000 to $1,500 a month -- $5 to $7 an hour -- a good wage for them, but far below the $10,000 to $15,000 monthly pay for American contract employees.
(snip/...)

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/188787.html

[Bobbieo]

3. Thank you, Judi !That's the link