Iraq -- U.S. Using Cash as a Defensive Weapon - Soldiers Handing Out Money
/Cash has become the U.S. military's first line of
defense in some parts of Iraq, where U.S. soldiers are distributing
money to encourage goodwill and to counter their enemies' offers of
money to unemployed Iraqis willing to attack Americans, according to
officers here. Even patrol leaders now carry envelopes of cash to spend
in their areas. The money comes from brigade commanders, who get as
much as $50,000 to $100,000 a month to distribute for local
rehabilitation and emergency welfare projects through the Commanders
Emergency Response Program. There are few restrictions on the
expenditures, and officers acknowledge they consider the money another
weapon. [more]
