Iraq getting too expensive for foreign contractors

[dArKeR]

THE GUARDIAN , BAGHDAD
Thursday, Sep 23, 2004,Page 6

A Turkish construction firm became the latest company to halt operations in Iraq on Tuesday in order to win the release of 10 of its staff held hostage by militants.

The UK has refused to make concessions to the militants holding the British contractor Kenneth Bigley captive in Iraq, as did the US before Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley were executed by their captors. But many other countries and companies have given in to kidnappers' demands in an attempt to free hostages.

Since militant groups began seizing foreigners in Iraq six months ago, they have made a significant impact on the operation of the US-led military coalition. In some cases, kidnappers have secured important political decisions, hampered the logistics of the US military or delayed reconstruction projects. In other cases it has been simply a matter of thousands of dollars in ransom.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/09/23/2003204011

I wonder how much a pint of blood costs?

[alittlelark]

1. And WAAAAY tooo expensive for US

$200,000,000,000 and counting the last I heard.

[Bandit]

4. What is the price of life?

:shrug: Way too expensive indeed...

[truth2power]

2. Waah waah. Cry me a river. n/t

[dArKeR]

3. I would guess the Media and Bush and covering up the blood story.

Just think, even in normal times there is always a low supply of blood. Imagine what's going on in the US military and the need for blood with Iraqi citizens!

[dArKeR]

5. "Young called to arms in blood shortage" - 24hours later a story about

blood! This has happened to me too many times! I've got a sixth sense.

Dubbed the "greatest generation," Americans who fought and lived through World War II also were pretty great about donating blood. But as their numbers dwindle and as they require more blood for their own surgeries, the USA is facing a drain on its blood supply.

So the non-profit Ad Council, along with America's top three blood-collection agencies, has launched an ad campaign targeting adults ages 17 to 24.

The effort, beamed to television, radio and college campuses, will push an urgent message to America's young: Donate blood. The campaign will use fast-paced imagery and modern storylines.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=676&ncid=676&e=8&u=/usatoday/20040923/ts_usatoday/youngcalledtoarmsinbloodshortage