Bad Iraqis

Sean e-mailed me last night and was inquiring about the Iraqis.  I should clarify- we have had some Iraqis get fired.  The smiling guys in the picture around the gun no longer work for us.  They got fired a little over a week ago after the three new workers they brought in got caught stealing parts off of one of the old generators.  The guys who had been working for us for a while were ready  to beat them up.  The new guys had been somewhat standoffish.  Because they didn't police their own, they all got fired.  We've heard from them and the original guys want to come back, but it's not going to happen. 

They're actually the second crew to get fired for stealing.  Before I got here, there was another group of workers that got caught stealing stuff out of the dump too.  In most third world countries, anything that is abandonned is fair game and I wonder if that's what they were thinking.  They had been told that they couldn't remove anything though. 

Would I trust the ones I've met?  It depends; for cleaning up trash and general work sure, but I wouldn't want them staying on base overnight or anything.  I'm not paranoid about them like some of the peole I've met who would just as soon we nuke this country and start over, but I'm not going to invite them over for tea and cookies either.  I'm sure there are those Iraqis who would provide information to the insurgents.  I know we get observed from off base too, not much I can do about it though. 

We aren't allowed to have a firearm, not that I would trust half the people I've met with one.  Most people carry a knife of some sort, but remember too that most of our people are trades people- carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc.- a knife is just another tool .  Call it a false sense of security, but I guess it makes you feel a little safer too.  The Iraqis get searched before they come on base and aren't allowed to bring any weapons.