• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Coalition hiring Iraqis for cleanup, other services

MOSUL, Iraq (Army News Service, April 28, 2003) - Coalition forces have been hiring local Iraqis in temporary jobs to provide support to the troops, to clean up the country, and fix damage done to buildings during the war.

"We are hiring local people as cooks, electricians, plumbers, barbers as well as many other trades," said Maj. James Middleton, 431st Civil Affairs executive officer.

Many Iraqi people have been out of work for months because of the financial strain Saddam's regime had on the masses. Town leaders and coalition forces throughout Iraq have been working together to get the Iraqi people, who are in need of work, back into local businesses.

"This will help infuse money back into their economy," said Middleton.

Hiring local people allows them to jump start their economy, according to Capt. Joseph F. Hockmuth, officer in charge of the Civil Military Information Center.

"Jobs are a very positive thing for the economy. It gets these people off the street and it makes them feel good to do something for the new Iraq," Hockmuth said.

Maher Fathi, a man hired as an interpreter said he was happy to have a job that "helps feed my family."

Another Iraqi man hired by the coalition, Alakaenu, said he has six children and a wife the coalition job is helping him support.

Hockmuth said the coalition understands this is a temporary situation because the Americans aren't going to be here forever. However, he said it's a good thing, because it shows there is stability and security in the area market.

The Iraqis who are hired work with coalition troops on a daily basis so they can effectively communicate with not only the local nationals, but with the community leaders as well, Hockmuth said. He said they assist in communicating national and strategic messages on the ground. The translators are communicating with the village leaders, the contractors and the local government about why the coalition is there, what they're doing and why the American government removed Saddam's regime.

"The majority of the better paying jobs were state-funded," Hockmith said about Iraq under Saddam's regime. "Since the war started, security is a big issue. People are worried about their family's safety and their property being stolen. So a lot of companies went out of business when the war started."

This is a small part of helping the Iraqi people, Hockmuth said. He said the big part will be getting the government in Mosul established. Once security is established, he said, and the government is running, the economy will follow.

(Editor's note: Pfc. Mary Rose Xenikakis is a member of the 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)