I keep an eye out for interesting blogs (authenticity unguaranteed) from Iraq. This one is zen-traveler from “Eric,” a security type guarding what I’m guessing is the Fox News villa in Baghdad. A lot of boredom, the ever-present threat of violence, live-shots – and some Zen Buddhism. Some interesting observations, but if I was Eric, I’d read more history and less Buddhism. Still, welcome to his world…

Question: What is going to happen when the U.S. military eventually pulls out and Congress turns off or limits funding for reconstruction? The “bubble bursts”, “the music stops” stops” whatever metaphor you want to use, most of those 20-50,000 security contractors are going to be scrambling for a job.

After running around in Iraq for a year are they going to happily go back to working the gun counter at Wal-mart? Sure there’s there’s security work in the United States, but the U.S. domestic security industry is a finite beast and has much different rules and regulations than Iraq. Ex-contractors from Iraq and Afghanistan will not be easily absorbed into the U.S. or international security market, so what will become of them?

Some things to keep in mind if you’re you’re a security contractor:

The security for Iraq, one way or another, will be turned over to the Iraqis. Someone has to manage and train that industry. There’s opportunity there.

Sure there will be other conflicts around the world that will require security contractors, but the United States won’t won’t be involved for a long time to come. That’s the coming political reality. That means no large U.S. Government contracts to pay your salary…

Don’t worry, Eric – there’s always education!