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Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

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Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#61

Post by ErrantX »

setori88 wrote: post #56
organicgrant wrote: post #2

I think you've already decided. Do it.

I honestly think those who clicked up, have no direct or indirect experience of war. If you had the slightest iota of experience you would be writing a comment like this. War could possibly be the most crude type of expression a human being can display. If you wish to experience such experiences, by all means head on out and do it. For those cooped up in school, playing video games, a war zone is not a form of gap ye…

I have indirect experience.

He should really consider going; it is probably a once in a lifetime experience and extremely sobering.

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#62

Post by davidw »

Zarathu wrote: post #26

Yes. Very solid yes. You don't see much of this in the media, but Iraq is a stunningly beautiful country. There's a lot that you can learn from the people there (and certainly much they could learn from you), and the Arabic language is nothing short of remarkable. Diving head-first into another culture is one of the few educations that the Internet and college cannot fully convey via text. You won't regret it.

The only culture he would be 'diving head-first into' is the US military culture; my guess is that his contact with the country would be somewhat limited, for obvious reasons. If you want to really experience a local culture, there are probably better countries for that, where you can concentrate on getting to know the people and culture and not worrying.

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#63

Post by johnyzee »

rdl wrote: post #37

I am a defense contractor; I've worked in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc. since about 2004. 1) $200k is pretty weak, even for today (it's gone downhill overall). If you can get a secret (basically, us citizen and not a felon), and have decent tech skills, you should be at $200-350k. 2) It's not tax free. The FIRST ~$85k is tax-exempt, which saves you about 18k. You then pay taxes at the normal 27-36% rates above that…

Upvoted for the information, but your fantasy of "putting bullets into bad guys" while working for the U.S. army is pretty sickening. Outside of military, nationalist propaganda, you are most likely fighting someone who is defending his home country against invasion and occupation. The 'good guys, bad guys' thing is a little uneducated. Sorry for the interlude.

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#64

Post by pclark »

johnyzee wrote: post #63
rdl wrote: post #37

I am a defense contractor; I've worked in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc. since about 2004. 1) $200k is pretty weak, even for today (it's gone downhill overall). If you can get a secret (basically, us citizen and not a felon), and have decent tech skills, you should be at $200-350k. 2) It's not tax free. The FIRST ~$85k is tax-exempt, which saves you about 18k. You then pay taxes at the normal 27-36% rates above that…

Upvoted for the information, but your fantasy of "putting bullets into bad guys" while working for the U.S. army is pretty sickening. Outside of military, nationalist propaganda, you are most likely fighting someone who is defending his home country against invasion and occupation. The 'good guys, bad guys' thing is a little uneducated. Sorry for the interlude.

I imagine your perspective changes a lot if you're out there on the ground.

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#65

Post by cousin_it »

albertsun wrote: post #3

I'd do it. Living and working in Iraq would be an amazing and unique experience, even without the high pay. Pick up an Arabic phrasebook while you're on your way.

"Amazing and unique experience"? Have you no shame, you fucking Americans?

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#66

Post by bad_user »

pclark wrote: post #64
johnyzee wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Upvoted for the information, but your fantasy of "putting bullets into bad guys" while working for the U.S. army is pretty sickening. Outside of military, nationalist propaganda, you are most likely fighting someone who is defending his home country against invasion and occupation. The 'good guys, bad guys' thing is a little uneducated. Sorry for the interlude.

I imagine your perspective changes a lot if you're out there on the ground.

For the invaders, it's mostly their choice to be out there on the ground ... for the defenders, it's not ... so maybe people in the army should understand if the natives are a little pissed off. After all, those bombs they've sent probably killed a lot of innocent people.

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#67

Post by stse »

After reading this thread, I'm just amazed how out of touch with reality a lot of the people here seem. Iraq is a war zone, one of the most dangerous places on the planet. Going there to experience the culture or the people is just absurd. There's a reason why you'll make relatively much money. And it's not because it's an awesome experience while you're there. Just the fact of being confined to a military base for a year is going to affect your life tremendously.

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#68

Post by pclark »

bad_user wrote: post #66
pclark wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I imagine your perspective changes a lot if you're out there on the ground.

For the invaders, it's mostly their choice to be out there on the ground ... for the defenders, it's not ... so maybe people in the army should understand if the natives are a little pissed off. After all, those bombs they've sent probably killed a lot of innocent people.

I imagine your perspective changes a lot if you're out there on the ground.

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#70

Post by plinkplonk »

pclark wrote: post #68
bad_user wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For the invaders, it's mostly their choice to be out there on the ground ... for the defenders, it's not ... so maybe people in the army should understand if the natives are a little pissed off. After all, those bombs they've sent probably killed a lot of innocent people.

I imagine your perspective changes a lot if you're out there on the ground.

"I imagine your perspective changes a lot if you're out there on the ground."

Very true, when your country is invaded and your friends and family shot/raped/jailed/killed by the invader's mercenaries, your perspective probably changes very fast!

Anyone getting in actual combat will experience perspective change no matter which side he is on I guess.

It is a bit harder for the rest of the world to sympathize with the invaders than with people defending their own homes and country. Just imagine your country invaded by a self righteous army trying to "uplift" you. I actually like the Unites States a lot, have lived there and so on, but if the USA were to invade my country you can be sure I'd fight back too. Americans would, if they were invaded instead of being the invaders.

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