Hard to Find Good Help -- Who Won't Get Shot

The US Embassy in Baghdad (right) complains they can't find enough locals to hire.

They call locals "locally engaged staff" or LES.

In a letter to Secretary of State Condi Rice, an Embassy staffer has a list of problems:

• Two LES employees gunned down in execution-style murders
• Two others barely escaped a similar fate in August
• For the first half of 2005 10 of 14 resignations were due to concerns over personal safety
• Of 58 job offers, 13 employees did not show up for work or resigned within 30 days

The letter says, "Our LES employees live in fear of being identified with the Embassy of the U.S. . . ."

And you though your job was tough. (WashPost)