Paying Big Bucks to Fix Iraq

Re “Job Seekers Not Deterred by Danger,” April 16: Halliburton is paying six-figure salaries to send U.S. workers to Iraq to do mundane jobs. I can’t help but wonder why it is not hiring the Iraqis to rebuild their own country. It would seem that there are quite a few unemployed, dissatisfied, able-bodied young men in need of a job. Perhaps if they had one they would not be trying so hard to kill our soldiers.

One thing we were told when we went to Iraq was that democracy could flourish there because it was a well-educated, secular society. U.S. companies are congratulating themselves on outsourcing to other countries to save a few bucks. It seems Halliburton has it backward.

Gail Burke

Studio City

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I was astounded to learn that Halliburton has over 24,000 personnel in Iraq, each making up to $100,000 a year, plus a $25,000 hazardous-duty insurance policy. So we “outsourced” jobs that used to be done by those in the military themselves -- who risked their lives for as little as $20,000 a year, cooking, serving meals, setting up accommodations, etc. -- to private contractors. Does anybody else see something wrong with this picture?

Christie

Davis

Los Angeles