I honestly think those who clicked up, have no direct or indirect experience of war. If you had the slightest iota of experience you would be writing a comment like this.

War could possibly be the most crude type of expression a human being can display. If you wish to experience such experiences, by all means head on out and do it. For those cooped up in school, playing video games, a war zone is not a form of gap year, lets go holiday in France effort.

If you into startups, head on out to China, where you will be blown away at the types of experiences and connections you can make. Life is much cheaper out there, connections made can set you up for life, learn a new language with a most powerful form of abstraction. I am pretty sure the chance of making decent business connections, in a once beautiful country that was Iraq now turned cess pit by corporate greed is pretty slim.

It is possible; if you wish to set yourself up as a most brilliant entrepreneur for single handedly transforming Iraq into a haven with your innovations, the world stoop before you, those odds are hard.

A place like China is far more advantageous for you, and if you want it... it can be dangerous too.

I have indirect experience.

He should really consider going; it is probably a once in a lifetime experience and extremely sobering.

War is hell, but an IT contractor isn't going to experience much of that hell--there'll be exciting moments when someone unfriendly gets a mortar close enough to lob a few shells into the base, but the stress of waiting for the next such attack isn't like going out on a helicopter and shooting farmers in rice paddies.

I agree with you. I am assuming that he does not have kids yet? So do it for the experience.

I did a similar thing. I quit my job at a big company and right now I am in Norway for a few months.

I am from the Philippines and believe it or not, I just experienced my first snow a few weeks ago.