job fair in iraq?

yesterday the national iraqi assistance center held a job fair and close to 1000 iraqi applicants waited in long lines for the opportunity to find employment. and this was not an event for cleaning crews, these applicants were professionals, engineers, linguists, and educators.

the striking thing about the fair is the line out side the hotel to get into the event. iraqis don't like standing in lines for the sole reason that they become targets of terrorism when they are in lines. at checkpoints, in markets, a line is a risk. but here iraqis stood in a long line for a long time. employment is that important.

economic security is a big part of the plan moving forward in iraq and these individuals are not waiting for a handout they are testing line and crowds to find a job.

i was with a reporter and she mentioned how the snack table was still full and in here experience at iraqi events the snacks were the first thing to go. but here those in attendance were more concerned with finding a job then getting free cookies.

one job at a time, one step towards peace.