I had to do a double take when I read this because I can't believe that US troops are now dishing out cash to Iraqis to fend off attacks. As I have mentioned before, why the hell are we flying in workers from all over the world so they can rebuild Iraq? I have no problem paying Iraqis and we should be paying Iraqis...for work. It's their country so they ought to be taking part in rebuilding it. This is the most desperate, misguided program that I have heard of recently. I'd rather not even think of the potential for abuse as well. What are they thinking?
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. The targets at which it is aimed are the restless legions of unemployed Iraqi men, many of them former soldiers, policemen and low-level members of the Baath Party of the ousted president, Saddam Hussein.
...Local commanders have the go-ahead to dish out tens, hundreds and thousands of dollars with little more paperwork than a signed receipt. Often, the cash is paid in return for a promise to perform a small community project, but it is also given to Iraqis to buy items they say are necessary.
