Halliburton Fans Spy Opportunity in Iraq Crisis

"During the training process, we spend most of our time giving recruits all the reasons they should not accept this job," Hall says. But "we continue to process several hundred personnel per week to deploy to the region."

Edwards is looking far beyond the risks faced by companies like Halliburton. For months, the financial adviser has spent two hours daily reading news reports -- including many from foreign sources -- about the war in Iraq. And even he is stunned by the recent hike in danger.

He now fears that soaring oil prices and rising security costs could take a toll on America overall.

"Two weeks ago, Iraq looked like it had calmed down. Then all of the sudden, it explodes," he says. "What if Iraq were to spin out of control? What would that mean for the economy?"