Yeesh. Perhaps some sort of Dutch auction system might be best, whereby the price starts off high, and we get Iraqis to kill themselves while lowering the price periodically until it gets low enough for them to refuse. I tell you, it’s awfully tough administering a botched occupation.
Let’s not be sentimental here. Lives do have monetary value. If you disagree, ask yourself this: How much extra would you pay for a safety device for your car that studies have shown to save the life of 0.1% of drivers? Multiply that by 1000, and that’s how much you value your own life.
Of course, if you quote an infinite amount, this theory would need some tweaking, and so would the car companies’ sales strategy.
Let’s be sentimental here. Lives do not have monetary value. If you disagree, ask yourself this:
How much could I pay you to kill you and your loved ones? Thought so.
Let’s be rational here. There have been roughly 400 suicide bombings in Iraq since 2003. I don’t think it takes much of a stretch to imagine an element in that culture that would gladly get themselves killed for the money their family would be paid.
Let’s be surreal here. Weave yourself a suit of armor from the dried foreskins of ten thousand pianists, and mambo through Basra flicking sardine heads at the locals.
Let’s be specific here: what are you suggesting they would do? Hang around drunk Americans hoping that one will shoot them accidentally so they can get a payout? Seems a stretch.
Or does my point’s validity depend upon whether or not I’ve read a history book?
Me, I’m surprised no-one’s jumped on the OP’s casual calling of Blackwater staff “mercs”. Where are the usual Defenders of Definitional Nitpicking? Have we finally worn them down?
And $15 000? I’m surprised they didn’t charge his family for the bullet.