Demagogue

I was researching some info on the U.S. military presence when I ran across this 2004 news article from one of Virginia's largest daily newspapers. The article examined the roughly 15,000 private security personnel who were hired by the U.S. government to "protect bodies, convoys and supplies, filling the gaps left by troops stretched too thin."

But this is the part of the article that caught my attention:

Operators in Iraq can earn more than $1,000 a day, depending on their experience and the riskiness of the job.

“When a guy can make more money in one month than he can make all year in the military or in a civilian job, it’s hard to turn it down,” McClellan said. “Most of us have been getting shot at most of our lives anyway.”

War zones appeal to other traits common among the operators. In places like Iraq, they can continue to serve their country’s needs. They can find the adrenaline rush many thrive on. They can put themselves and their training to the test.

And then, there’s the “cool guy factor,” as McClellan put it. “Let’s face it,” he said. “Chicks dig it.”

"Dig" may be the operative word. No matter how impressed the "chicks" back home may be, it doesn't really pay dividends if you get killed in Iraq and what they're digging is your grave.