Why can't Iraqis work in Iraq? Why do they need to import labor when so many Iraqis are out of work?

Danny , Belleville, Illinois/ USA

This is another US kidnaping of Foreign people where they can take advantage of them secretly. But now they are discovered. Mayve First Kuwaiti originated this kidnaping, but the US was behind every order.
What kind of slave labour is 150pounds per month, and work them like a horse. I want to see the american or Brit that would work for 150 pounds??
The world, and the Philippines President should demand thru an international court, and make them pay all back wages up to $10 per hour+ per diem.

Paul W., Miami, Fla, USA

This is yet another example of how the $10-billion per month of US tax dollars is being plundered in Bush's illegal oil-war. At $800-odd-biullion already wasted over there, and at the current cost of oil at around $80/barrel, the would be equivalent to at least 10-BILLION barrels of oil that could have been bought legitimately. Is there any way that the oil Bush is so greedily after can repay the cost of this aggreivous and immoral imperialization of Iraq? Why are all our politions' heads still in the sand? Why after all of Bush's and Cheney's lies, are they still being allowed to continue?

Steve Bracy, Palm Springs, CA

America has a responsibility to police their "lowest bidder" contracters.
As a veteran recently returned from Afghanistan I did not hear complaints as extreme as this from contract workers but did see some disturbing trends emerge.
The most disturbing was the replacement of American workers who made a decent wage, but were still expected to work long hours 7 days a week, with third nation workers at a fraction of the cost.
This may make business sense but is horrible for Operations Security as the underpaid/overworked personell can be more easily tempted into espionage for pay.
A great many of the workers replacing Americans were from former Soviet satellite states. Russia may be a so called "ally" but it is still VERY active in espionage against it's new FRIENDS to protect and further their nations interests.
Cheaping out on labor is a dangerous way to fight a war.

Jack Crow, Springfield,

jose costa -- go back to what? t o iran 1953? guatemala 1954? dominican republic 1965? vietnam? chile 1973? the covert war against nicaragua? jonas savimbi? what fantasy world do you have in mind?

LatAm, Washington, DC

Florence Napier, that is the typical redarded response that we expect from your neck of the woods............no wonder the world is in suh a state.

Adam Scott, Quito, Ecuador

There was a series in the Chicago Tribune entitled "Pipeline to Peril" about just this sort of abuse of illegally trafficked Third Country Nationals. Whether it is a Kuwaiti contractor or U.S. contractor is immaterial; the point is that the contract is with the United States government, and the money comes from U.S. taxpayers. So yes, we Americans bear ultimate responsibility for the enslavement of foreign workers in Iraq if we do nothing about it.

Zoltan Grossman, Olympia, Washington, USA

Sir,
The American military-industrial complex, outsourcing the "dirty jobs" to the unaccountable, faceless mercenaries, corporate slave-masters of the new Rome. The PB (Politically Barbaric) values of the Neo-Conservatives, "Back to the Future" with a vengeance?

SC, London, United Kingdom

Regarding the comments of Victoria and M Grant, these are mere cop-outs. Yes, the contractor was Kuwaiti, under contract to the US Government. As such the US Government has the moral, and possibly legal, responsibility, to ensure that all its contractors behave in an ethically correct way. Duping unwitting workers into traveling to a false destination seems a good start down the slippery slope to me.

If the Kuwaiti contractor had substandard safety practices would it be OK for the US Government to turn a blind eye? I think not.

Wake up you two and stop making excuses.

Edward, Seattle, USA

First of all, I want to thank the Times for putting this article in front of your website; people need to know about this. I am a Filipino, and hearing and reading about this story in our local newspapers and now in the international news websites angers me about the violation that my countrymen have experience at hands of our so called ally; our country actually issued a ban on travel to Iraq because of the dangerous conditions, and we lacked the resources to rescue our contract workers there. Considering, the Philippines has been an unwavering ally of the US, this is really disheartening to say the least. I am currently preventing myself for uttering an anti-US rant for we live in an hegemonic era, and the US as a super power is needed for the world to function, but if it cannot take care of its own allies, and in fact is the very source of the abuse in this case, how can you expect it to lead the world in a peaceful coexistence with each other?

Marie, Muntinlupa, Philippines

Yes, the situation is deplorable. No one should ever be tricked into doing to a dangerous place, regardless of the situation! And yes, there should be a thorough investigation, and the contract should be immediately rescinded.

However, this was not a decision of the American administration, nor even of an American contractor, as one of the other comments here claims. Read the article again, and drop your cognitive biases while you do so. The transgressing party in this situation, as reported in this article, is the KUWAITI contractor.

Victoria, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

In practical terms, US administration is not to be blamed in this abuse. However, it is still a huge blunder of the US administration to be negligent enough to let this happen, in US EMBASSY out of all places! What is supposed to be the symbol of freedom and democracy turns out to be built by the hands of the kidnapped, there is no worse PR then that.

Alan Fong, Macau,

This is nothing new, Middle eastern Companies have been kidnapping 'third world national' workers for decades.
Confiscating their passports (virtually imprisoning them), and paying slave wages.
The US needs to get a grip on this project; but the blame is with the nice Arabs who still think that slavery is alive and well.

D. Wilkins, N.P.,

Ah yes.........those evil Americans!!!!

Except, wait. Um........this was about the KUWAITI contractor. Not Americans.

Let's remember that.

Americans have problems. So does our government. (Just like everyone else's, except nobody wants to talk about them.) But let's not use every possible excuse to attribute the fault of another nation (in this case Kuwait) to America.

R.S., Greenville, South Carolina

Pharaoh building the pyramid all over again. And the Lord shall
smite them -- once again.
America has multiple personality disorder to the core.
It has a self-image of the land of freedom and opportunity, yet buries its head in the sand when it comes to the blood and lives of natives and Africans upon which it was founded.
Slave labor from south of the border is enticed in, then rounded up like cattle as illegal aliens.
Teenagers steeped in bigotry are sent to Iraq as 'libertor' invaders, and let loose upon the local populace without adult supervision. Result? Rape, murder, and abuse.
Nobody up the chain of command is held responsible.
Guantanamo: Holding people in a legal blackhole indefinitely - including a Reuters photographer and OBL's driver! Imagine the Soviets holding a secret service driver as a 'high-value' prisoner?
And now this. Kidnapping? Well, that's not new, really. What was it called before? Rendition?

Marconi, Jeddah,

This has been happening for 40 years while the US public closed their eyes.
This mistreatment of workers has only been made possible because the American public has been brainwashed all these years.
Wake up Americans, there is a world outside Hollywood and Disneyland.

Indian, Oslo, Norway

Just another day in the empire. Turn over and go back to sleep.

Joe, Decatur, Illinois

I can only say that this incident reflects the slavery Kuwaiti companies preform towards their workers

amr, kuwait,

Nobody interested in asking what the US need a US$300 Mn embassy with 3,000 staff for in a country with an income of US2,000 a year ?

It may be called an Emassy but it's function is as a US HQ in the Middle East supported by 7 military bases - already built.

Edward Teague, Manchster, UK

Looks like the press gang and alive and well. "Shanghaied” again. The entire world is finally learning the lesson that has been obvious for some time. Namely, the US has no interests but its own.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Nagano

Ed from Texas is right. That company is not American run and those guys are making more then they would ever do if they were working in their own country. Look at what the British do in London. There are thousands of foreign students working in supermarkets and places like that, but since they can only work 20hrs per week, they make peanuts, they work for peanuts. To go a bit further, how much do you think a chinese worker make in China. They work for a £ a day!!!So we can buy cheap stuff here.Funny how everything in the world is blamed on the US. God bless America.

Fabio C, London, UK

To m grant from Fresno, California, USA:

I really do hope you're not implying the US government has no say in how its own embassies are built? Let's not split hairs. This is at least partly the US government's responsibility.

Erik, The Hague, Netherlands

2 m grant and Victoria
Do you really believe that the Kuwaiti contractor could do anything on the construction site of the US embassy without strict control of the US army or the CIA? Or do you think that the apalling living conditions of the workers were so hard to be noticed by the US authorities and at the same time they were so obvious for the architect?
Stop playing the hypocrite! You, your government and your buisiness perfectly know that people in poor countries are treated like animals to provide your wealthy and healthy life.
Do you remember that Chinese workers assembling iPods earn £27 per month and toil for 15 ours a day just to give you one more opportunity to enjoy music?
I understand that such is life and the poorer become Asian workers the better and more comfortable becomes your life.
But just stop saying that you have any respect to human rights and that you and your country don't understand what is happening. No one believes in your lie.

Sergey Karasev, Moscow, Russia

Those saying the administration is not to blame are overlooking the fact that it was the administration that awarded the contract to a company that was controversial way before this information was released and had a reputation for exploiting workers when they made submitted their bid proposal. CorpWatch was investigating First Kuwait's as early as 2003, and this contract was awarded well after this information was known.

The Army was made aware of allegations against Halliburton's treatment of Asian workers only. Their resolution - Haliburton must address the concerns appropriately.

This is old news about the workers that hasn't been handled to date... but hey, let's just blame the employer.

rebecca, USA,

American government who claims to be the Champions of Human rights are themselves the worst offenders.
Shame on them.

David Lindon , London, U K

I don't exactly see how the Bush administration is a fault since this a Kuwaiti company.

Sean, Tennessee,

Kidnapping foreign workers to work on an AMERICAN embassy, regardless of the contractor, is ultimately the responsibility of the American government.

Alan, Perth, Australia

The US government shares the blame for the kidnappings, they are responsible for vetting and selecting sub-contractors. If i owned a day care centre and then hired/contracted a child molester to run the day care centre. How can i claim that it was not my fault and yet it was my job to vet the job candidates

rogers k, clemson, usa

This all sounds believable , as i once worked in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for an american company , about 22 years ago . We werent hijacked , but conditions there were so different from promised that it could have been another job entirely .

theodore, st. ives, australia

This is American business, at it's best, BLACKMAIL.
From the President downwards.

The Amecians are always screaming out "We are a Super Power,.
This is so, of Deceit, Dis-struction & Death.

I only hope, these unfortunate people take this company to ICC.

Ray Smith, Alicante, Spain

What's wrong with America? Things must go back to what they was, not long ago.

Jose Costa, Lisbon, Portugal

Victoria and m grant, I suggest YOU read the article again. Two witnesses before Congress have testified the abuse occurred, yet the State Department and Pentagon can't find evidence. Did they even talk to Mayberry or Owens? These guys have no incentive to lie and a strong incentive to tell the truth, as they were presumably under oath when testifying. On the other hand, we've seen lie after lie come from our government, so this looks like one more coverup. When the government refuses to seriously investigate and punish abuses like this, it is complicit.

Bill Rood, Rochester, MN

We don't Care!
Don't expect any concern or interest from the US. We're too busy watching reality TV, buying our new SUV or heading to the gym to look nice. Truly, people I talk with everyday tut-tut what's going on in Iraq, but hey, there's a sale on at Robinson's, gotta go. The only thing we care about is the price of gas for our cars. Sorry world.

Terry Neill, Santa Monica, CA, USA

What's the fuss about? No one gives a damn that's why nothing will ever be done except bray on about it.

Ian , london ,

People, this is not an american run company. The company that is doing this is a British run comapny and the rate they are paying is the same rate they pay all 3rd world country memebers. $300-500 a month which is 6 times higher then they make in thier own country. But there are some truths to this story. I was there.

ED, Richwood, Texas

Please Lord save us from the Bush administration.

Max, San Borondón, Canary Islands

Yes, the situation is deplorable. No one should ever be tricked into doing to a dangerous place, regardless of the situation! And yes, there should be a thorough investigation, and the contract should be immediately rescinded.

However, this was not a decision of the American administration, nor even of an American contractor, as one of the other comments here claims. Read the article again, and drop your cognitive biases while you do so. The transgressing party in this situation, an as reported in this article, is the KUWAITI contractor.

Victoria, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

To Erik, from the Hague: If you read the article, it states clearly that the workers were deceived and mistreated by their employer, First Kuwaiti General Trading and Contracting. First Kuwaiti is not owned, controlled or operated by "the current American administration". Please place blame where it is due.

m grant, Fresno, California, USA

Haven't heard a thing about this in the U.S. press. Scandalous...but the way this war is going, there will be no accountability. Right now, our government is dysfunctional. The president doesn't obey the law and Congress will not exercise its "checks and balances" duty. And the majority of the electorate are really pissed off.

Richard Gross, Arlington, Tennessee, USA

you can't look a gift horse in the mouth, if you get a free ticket, then it's a free ticket. If you buy your own return ticket, you can go back.

Florence Napier, Chicago, IL

Unbelievable,slavery still exists . I'm sure this was being done under the watchful eyes of CIA, its hard to believe that Us authorities were unaware of this,its a high security zone after all,good incident to identify American policies

poojitha, Mahe, Seychelles

'They hate our freedom'!!

SB, Manchester, England

I do hope this is not true, but I feel it's not beyond the realms of probability.
Does'nt matter how many enquiries there are , nothing will be proved, those who could be involved will make sure of that.

Maggie Millington, Brittany, France

The potentates who occupy the White House have turned off all the lights of Democracy and continue to trash our Constitution.
How far do they have to go before we (the American people) stop them? Pelosi & Feinstein oppose impeachment "because it will divide our nation", and yet offer no other solution to stop them.
I believe it was Churchill who once said tyrants (referring to Hitler & Mussolini) had to be stopped because if you attempted to mollify them, they would just become more aggresive and take more and more ( words to that effect). If any of you Brits happen to know the exact quote, pls correct me?

Olivia, San Diego, US

Keep in mind, this in not the United States involved in human trafficking. This is a Kuwait-based construction firm outside American legal jurisdiction. America's hands are clean.

This same line of reasoning is used when Korean bar owners import human trafficked Filipinas to work as prostitutes for American servicemembers in front of Osan Air Base in Songtan, South Korea.

While Osan leadership talks tough and generates a lot of paperwork to show they are stopping human trafficking and prostitution, the bars are never put off-limits and some members of senior leadership play golf with the club owners. Inspector General investigations seem to happen during military exercises when the bars are closed or mostly empty. Of course, certain clubs always have advanced notice of any investigation.

The First Kuwaiti situation, no doubt, is the same. The Inspector General finds what they are told to find in an investigation “limited in scope” with 3 months' notice.

Jon Nathan, Songtan, South Korea

People! It is NOT the US government who are enslaving laborers. It is unscrupulous contractors in the building and manufacturing trade. I worked many years in manufacturing, and believe me, you would be shocked to learn what companies and contractors try to get away with. In the USA, contractors often break the law by hiring illegal aliens. Filipinos (and others) working in middle eastern countries are often mistreated by contractors. If you ever purchased a Chinese product, chances are the product was made by child slaves working in the most deploable conditions.
If you ever had work done on your property, you don't care under what conditions the work is done. You just care that it gets done. Unfortunately, contractors will often get the work done at the expense of shroddy workmanship and the mistreatment of larborers.

Bruce, Minneapolis, USA

I could quite easily imagine that the top US administration would have no idea about this type of slavery, however those closer to the ground would or could know. And that is inexcusable. If First Kuwait did actually do this I congratulate the whistleblowers, Mr. Mayberry and Mr. Owen.

There is no doubt that if after a full inspection was carried out there could be no case of kidnapping made, at the least the US administration would be able to determine that the pay and conditions these labourers are working in is disgusting and inhumane. Sadly, if challenged, I'm sure that the head or sub-contractors would shrug, turn around and ignore the protests, or simply state, "it is as it has always been".

This is what caused "workers of the world to unite" 100 years ago in the west. It will only be a matter of time before the same happens in the east. The seemingly endless supply of cheap labour and human misery will dry up. And the Middle East will be left scratching its head.

Name withheld, Manama, Bahrain

In all fairness, it wasn't the Americans who did this.

Tim, Toronto,

I live in Bahrain and the use of what is little more than slave labour is rife here. Not just here but all through-out the middle east, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Men and women from the sub-continent are seen as little more than expendable low value economic units that can be easily replaced if they run away, are injured or, worse yet, die.

Many run away to the underground working illegally washing cars, doing odd jobs, eeking out an existence with no hope of returning home as they can't afford the return fare and their passports are usually taken by their "sponsor" upon arrival.

The conditions these people work and live in are truly appalling with a salary of about US$120 per month being average, if not actually considered high. Building labourers toil for 12 hours a day, often in unbearable heat. Efforts to allow them breaks during the day are often ignored by their "owners" who consider such laws to be economically stifling.

This story does not surprise me.

Name withheld, Manama, Bahrain

Double standard -- typical Americans!

Deedee, Hamburg, Germany

I am surprised,that people are surprised,when these stories are sprung upon us. Human rights are respected when the abuser is weaker than those he wishes to abuse.

David Nigel Braham, Milan, Italy

Seems to me like this is just more evidence of the fact the current American administration considers non-Americans to be second rate world citizens.

Inexcusable, despicable.

Erik, The Hague, Netherlands

Good

luzang, Heilongjiang, China

What a surprise!

Thats Freedom and Democracy for you - US style with Middle Eastern Despots.

Olivia, Manchester, UK

Well now, it appears the US clearly has no right to criticize human rights violations anywhere in the world, ever again. How shameful, how sad, how utterly inhuman and horrific. What a hypocritical country we live in !

Carmen, Nashville,

At least this piece has humour in it: 'sending exactly the wrong message to Iraq and the rest of the world about US respect for human rights'. I know this is a conservative newspaper, but by now i think the concept of the USA having any respect for human rights has gone out the window. I also love the fact that the company had three months to prepare before the inspector made the visit! Very funny. Poor Phillipinos though! Not funny.

Bob Holness, London, UK

If such a thing happened to an American how would America respond? Until such time as US foreign policy is based on the notion of do unto others as you wish them to do unto you, all that will continue to occur are a series of injustices. And may God Almighty have Mercy and guide us all, amen.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

Complete this story: Who is paying for this complex and why is it necessary?

Deborah B. Luyster, Jacksonville, USA/Florida

Howard Krongard from State Dept visited in September (aahh what year ??)..after a notice to visit with 3 mo. notice..!!..And, Mr Waxman is a dollar short and a year (?) behind...And this is your 'civil servants' at work ..??!!...ha...

timothy mccarthy, san marcosU S, US of A////Ca