Just about every man from the village of al-Faris has worked at the nearby Taji military base. The US money and influence is seen in the new cars, the additions to houses, even the billiards hall with a guitar from a US soldier. But now, as the US military winds down its time in Iraq, the Iraqis who once worked so closely with US forces are starting to wonder what will happen to them.
“The military is starting to withdraw and its influence is being felt,” said Sheikh Lukman Rahman Hama, the village’s senior administrator. “We were lucky because the Americans offered us jobs. The Iraqi government did not offer us jobs.”
For the vast majority of Iraqis, their closest contact with Americans has been with troops hidden behind layers of body armor, wearing tinted glasses and riding in armored Humvees that used to run Iraqi vehicles off the road.
However, there has always been a relatively small group of Iraqis who have worked with Americans over the years. According to US military figures, a little more than 13,000 Iraqis now work for contractors hired by the US military as translators or in other jobs such as laundry or maintenance. That’s down from a high of more than 43,000 in January last year, reflecting the drawdown as the US went from about 170,000 troops to just under 50,000.
The drop is also being seen at al-Faris, where the number of Iraqis from the village working at US military facilities has plummeted from 800 to 100. Those who have lost their jobs clutch recommendations given to them by their former employers, in hopes that the words of a former staff sergeant or colonel will help them find a new job.
With unofficial estimates on unemployment in Iraq ranging as high as 30 percent, it’s a challenging task. Currently, 1,168 Iraqis work on the Taji base, which is home to about 7,000 people — 2,500 of whom are US troops. That’s down from a one-time high of about 10,000 US troops.
A few of the workers have heard of US asylum programs for Iraqis.
“I do not know what to do when they leave,” said Riyadh Mohammed Ahmed, who works as a carpenter on the base. “I’ve heard that if I go to the American embassy, they would help me to get out of Iraq.”
For those Iraqis who do work on US bases, it has been a window into US values and culture that will leave a lasting impression long after the last US soldier leaves. Iraqis coming from a culture with few regulations have come face-to-face with a regimented US military culture where even cigarette butts are supposed to be thrown in a trash can and not on the ground.
However, it’s unclear what will happen to those jobs as the base transitions from US to Iraqi control. First Lieutenant Shawn Tyrie said the military is trying to find out which businesses on the base may want to work with the Iraqi army as it takes over. However, some Iraqis consider the Iraqi army so corrupt that only those with connections or bribes can get jobs and contracts.
Few seem to feel their past US work experience will make it harder for them.
“Absolutely I should tell people that I worked for the Americans when I apply for a new job. This might help and give me a push forward, although it has some danger,” said Mohammed Orahman Haman Rahim, the owner of the billiards hall.
When he lost his job at the Taji base in 2007, Rahim decided to buy the two billiards tables and open up a business. But now even his billiards hall, plastered with pictures of famous soccer stars from Europe and featuring a guitar he was given by a US soldier, is suffering the effects of the drawdown.
Rahim picks up a book where he keeps tabs on everyone who owes him money. He leafs through the pages of people who can’t afford to play one game of pool.
Many of his customers have lost their jobs.
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