Irish car salesmen set to invade Iraq

FORGET ceasefires and free elections. The real sign of peace to come to Iraq could well be in the form of an Irish car salesman.

Recruitment is underway for persuasive types to go to the Middle East to sell cars and motorbikes to American troops stationed at military bases. And the next market being eyed up is Saddam Hussein's former fiefdom.

The recruitment drive, running in Dublin this week, is for US company Overseas Military Sales Corporation (OMS), which works in many countries, including Kuwait, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan.

"Wherever American troops are based, we're there too," said Desmond Powell, originally from Birr, Co Offaly, who has worked with OMS for 18 years. "And we're going into Iraq when things settle down."

OMS is a distributor for manufacturers like General Motors, Chrysler, Ford and Harley-Davidson and sells at alluring factory prices to soldiers on overseas service for delivery to their homes when they get back to the US.

Salesmen have to be sharp as they work from brochures and laptop demonstrations instead of offering test drives, but a soldier with nothing to look at except desert makes a good customer.

"The American military likes to see us coming. They're very friendly and welcoming especially to the Irish," explained Mr Powell, who recruited his first six Irish salesmen last February.

"Soldiers are looking forward to getting home and thinking of spending a bit on themselves. It's a reward for a job well done."

Recently calmed war zones are not everyone's idea of a model working environment, but the attractions include tax-free pay of up to $150,000 a year plus free transport and accommodation.

"We do a lot of interviews and psychological testing on candidates but it's a culture shock for some of them," he said.

All the salespeople are male as residency and work permit regulations in many countries bar women applicants. One candidate who fitted the required single male aged between 25-35 profile did not want to alarm his current employer by revealing his identity but was eagerly hoping to be picked.

"It's a chance to see a part of the world that's not going to be on the tourist trail for quite a while," he said, adding that he had no concerns for his personal safety.

"I won't be going anywhere it's not safe. It wouldn't make sense from a commercial point of view. If soldiers are just trying to stay alive, they're probably not thinking too much about the colour of their next Harley," he said.