# The value of an Iraqi life: $15,000. What a bargain! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 1, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196 "2007-10-01T20:20:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/1 "2007-10-01T20:20:45Z")
[Exit strategy: kill all 25 million of 'em, pay $375 billion](http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004338.php) to…damned if I know, but we could pay it, so WTF does it matter? > [@](#): > > After an infamous December incident wherein a drunken Blackwater contractor shot and killed a bodyguard for Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi, one U.S. embassy official wrote to another: > > \*Will you be following in up Blackwater [sic] to do all possible to ensure that a sizable compensation is forthcoming? If we are to avoid this whole thing becoming even worse, I think a prompt pledge and apology – even if they want to claim it was accidental – would be the best way to assure the Iraqis don’t take steps, such as telling Blackwater that they are no longer allowed to work in Iraq. \* > > In State’s defense, an embassy cable from Secretary Condoleezza Rice argued “strongly” that “justice had to be done.” But justice is a relative thing. When embassy officials proposed the price for the guard’s life be pegged at either $100,000 or $250,000, a State diplomatic-security official countered with $15,000. The figure needed to be lower, the diplomatic-security official contended, so Iraqis wouldn’t “try to get killed to set up their family financially.” Two days after the shooting, Blackwater and State agreed that the guard’s family should receive $15,000. Ultimately, Blackwater got the shooter out of Iraq and back to the U.S., with the assistance of State’s diplomatic security service. And of course, that $15K pales next to the value of a single year of the life of a live Blackwater merc: [$445,000](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/washington/01cnd-blackwater.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1191268933-8Q1wxZ2SKKc0LuwMe6S6IA). Just think - if 1,000 Blackwaters spend 4 years in Iraq, that’s worth as much to the U.S. government as the lives of roughly 120,000 Iraqis. Gives you a sense of perspective, doesn’t it? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/2 "2007-10-01T20:43:00Z")
Sounds rather expensive to me. I’ll wait for a garage sale. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/3 "2007-10-01T21:45:00Z")
Or E-Bay… Yeah, definitely E-Bay, with no reserve… ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/4 "2007-10-01T21:47:56Z")
> [@](#): > > The figure needed to be lower, the diplomatic-security official contended, so Iraqis wouldn’t “try to get killed to set up their family financially.” 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. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/5 "2007-10-01T22:21:16Z")
Speaking of money and Iraq: > [@the Washington Post](#): > > Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Baghdad overseeing more than 160,000 U.S. troops, makes roughly $180,000 a year, or about $493 a day. That comes out to less than half the fee charged by Blackwater for its senior manager of a 34-man security team. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/6 "2007-10-01T22:31:14Z")
They should have offered them a toaster.\* \*Offer not available outside of Baghdad. Electricity service not included. Void where prohibited. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/7 "2007-10-01T23:20:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/8 "2007-10-02T03:29:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/9 "2007-10-02T03:42:12Z")
[QUOTE=by-tor] 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. [/QUOTE] Let’s be rational here. There have been roughly [400 suicide bombings in Iraq since 2003](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/16/AR2005071601363_pf.html). 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. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/10 "2007-10-02T03:46:23Z")
Let’s be psychotic here. Let’s kill Iraqis randomly and leave silver dollars on their eyes. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/11 "2007-10-02T03:51:43Z")
Let’s be pragmatic here. Let’s auction off chances for Iraqis to be killed by US contractors, and let the market decide. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/12 "2007-10-02T03:56:25Z")
[QUOTE=athelas] 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. [/QUOTE] Have you donated a nickel to UNICEF to save a child’s life? If not, you value the life of children at less than 5 cents. ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/13 "2007-10-02T03:58:29Z")
Let’s be rational here. But not over there. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/14 "2007-10-02T04:17:09Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/15 "2007-10-02T05:52:14Z")
Let’s be _emphatic_ here. I _really, really, really_ mean that. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/16 "2007-10-02T05:57:26Z")
Let it be. Hear! Hear! ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/17 "2007-10-02T06:06:04Z")
[QUOTE=by-tor] 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. [/QUOTE] Let’s be clear here: so you think that the deceased Iraqi’s family should receive nothing? Thought not. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/18 "2007-10-02T06:10:31Z")
[QUOTE=A Monkey With a Gun] Let’s be rational here. There have been roughly [400 suicide bombings in Iraq since 2003](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/16/AR2005071601363_pf.html). 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. [/QUOTE] 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? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/19 "2007-10-02T06:32:38Z")
Blackwater. Jesus fuck a shit souffle. Every time we lift the lid on that can of worms, another stench so ghastly, cockroaches puke their guts out. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196/20 "2007-10-02T06:38:41Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-an-iraqi-life-15-000-what-a-bargain/421196.md?page=2)