The Iraqi Crane Operators: a pictorial
These fellows are paid to bring a crane onto our little base here on the border of Iraq and Iran, to move various items around. The pictures here show them moving around “connexes,” which are the big metal containers that you see on the back of semi trucks. This is how the Army and, I’m assuming, most of the military ships various materials where they are needed. In our case, Iraq. They also move T-Wall barriers, Jersey barriers, HESCO barriers, maintenance equipment… you name it.
If you are ever paying an Iraqi crane operator to move items around for you, do not pay him until he is finished. Once you pay him, he will have a multitude of excuses as to why he needs to be finished right then. His sister is sick. His cousin is getting married. He’s scared he’ll get killed for helping Americans. He needs to leave before it gets dark. It’s almost time to pray. And on, and on, and on. Just remember that. If you’re ever in Iraq. And you need a crane.
I had to decrease the quality and clarity of these shots to load them all onto my website server via the exceptionally slow and finnicky internet connection we have out here. Forgive me. That being said, uploading lower quality images here undoubtedly hurts me more than it hurts you.
This is the surly bugger who operates the crane, as is evident. The second photo is a close-up of this same crane operator. I believe the close-up effectively conveys his surly nature.
The following shots are of the above surly individual’s assistant. The assistant gets on top of the containers, attaches the chains as necessary, and facilitates the movement. He provides intricate and precise direction both verbally as well as with his hands using an established sequence of gestures, all while overseeing the potential stress points for the machinery as well as prediciting possible friction with the… I’m just kidding. He just gets on the containers and hooks up the chains. Sometimes he rides the chains up to the top of the container so he doesn’t have to climb. Sometimes he rides on top of the container as it’s being moved.
