thedrifter
05-17-07, 04:22 AM
US marines banking on Fallujah police
by Paul Schemm
Wed May 16, 11:41 PM ET
A seven-tonne truck sits idling beneath the night sky corralled by six US Humvees -- it is carrying 45 billion Iraqi dinars (35 million dollars, 25 million euros) in cash, the wages for much of the Fallujah area.
In a rare experiment for the rebel-ridden western province of Al-Anbar, the US military is looking to the once-derided police force of the erstwhile insurgent bastion to escort the millions to the bank.
But the Fallujah force, seen as in cahoots with Islamic militants before a devastating November 2004 US counteroffensive to retake the city, are not yet trusted to do the job alone.
The US marines live in hope that they will soon be able to rid themselves of the risky night-time run through what is still bandit country.
The huge consignment of crisp dinar notes represents the payroll for all state employees, including staff at public utilities and government-owned firms, for the entire Fallujah district.
"Elsewhere in Anbar, we just deliver it ourselves, but here we thought; 'Why not use the IPs? (Iraqi police)'," said Major Andrew Dietz, deputy commander of the civil affairs group for the 6th Marine Regiment.
"They really don't do it anywhere else," he added, noting it was a sign of how far the city police had come.
Past police chiefs had been fired for corruption and the force is only now overcoming its once shady reputation.
The money for the salaries is from Baghdad but has to be flown by the Americans to their base outside Fallujah.
From there some two dozen marines load the bags and boxes of cash into the truck and drive it out into the desert to wait for the police.
The police, however, were late and more stars began to appear in the darkening skies, feebly lit from the glow of the nearby marine base.
The money was destined for the state-owned Rafidain Bank, which would then disburse it to other banks in the area.
News that the bank needs another transfer always seems to come at the last minute, making the next delivery an imperative if salaries are to be paid.
Keeping government employees paid not only keeps going what meagre municipal services the battered province still has, it also keeps people from turning to the insurgency for money, according to the marines.
Suddenly in the distance appear flashing lights and then bumping across the desert road roar six blue and white police pickups accompanied by a light cargo truck.
Snouts of assault rifles poke out of windows covered by the crude metal plates the police weld on their vehicles to give then some protection from insurgent bullets or bombs.
Not one of the policemen was dressed the same, with some sporting baseball caps, and others the chequered Arab headscarves often worn by the insurgents themselves. Many cover their faces with ski masks.
The rise of an effective police force has come with its own dangers and the families of officers are regularly targeted.
Dust was kicked up as the pickups jockeyed for position but soon the police colonel restored order and box after box of money was loaded onto the trucks.
Mohammed Fandy, manager of the Rafidain Bank was on hand as well, supervising the offloading of his precious currency and telling the masked men to be careful with the heavy boxes.
Trucks loaded, the police abruptly tore off towards central Fallujah, their flashing lights highlighting them against the darkness of the desert.
The marines sped off behind them, pushing their hulking Humvees to unaccustomed speeds to keep up with the lighter police vehicles.
"Our job is security and to make sure it actually gets there," said Chief Warrant Officer Steve Townsley as his vehicle entered the dark streets of the city centre. "Not that we don't trust IPs."
The situation has not yet reached the point where the Iraqi police are solely responsible for getting the tens of billions of dinars to the bank -- although the marines would be more than happy to give up these midnight runs.
"The last one was supposed to be our last one, and now there's this one," grumbled Townsley.
The police took a short cut through the car park of the bullet-scarred town hall that sits in the city centre like an embattled Alamo, and swerved into a series of narrow alleys that left the Humvees' antennae tangled in low slung power lines.
When they caught up, the unloading had already begun, with menacing masked figures armed with light machine guns and draped in bullets guarding the dark street corners.
Less then half an hour later, the job was done and the city's coffers have been replenished for at least the next six weeks.
Except that banker Fandy then comes over and tells the marines that he's heard the long awaited government compensation for householders left destitute by the destruction of the US assault of two and a half years ago is finally ready.
"They'll soon be sending another 90 billion dinars (70 million dollars), so be ready for that," he said.
Ellie
by Paul Schemm
Wed May 16, 11:41 PM ET
A seven-tonne truck sits idling beneath the night sky corralled by six US Humvees -- it is carrying 45 billion Iraqi dinars (35 million dollars, 25 million euros) in cash, the wages for much of the Fallujah area.
In a rare experiment for the rebel-ridden western province of Al-Anbar, the US military is looking to the once-derided police force of the erstwhile insurgent bastion to escort the millions to the bank.
But the Fallujah force, seen as in cahoots with Islamic militants before a devastating November 2004 US counteroffensive to retake the city, are not yet trusted to do the job alone.
The US marines live in hope that they will soon be able to rid themselves of the risky night-time run through what is still bandit country.
The huge consignment of crisp dinar notes represents the payroll for all state employees, including staff at public utilities and government-owned firms, for the entire Fallujah district.
"Elsewhere in Anbar, we just deliver it ourselves, but here we thought; 'Why not use the IPs? (Iraqi police)'," said Major Andrew Dietz, deputy commander of the civil affairs group for the 6th Marine Regiment.
"They really don't do it anywhere else," he added, noting it was a sign of how far the city police had come.
Past police chiefs had been fired for corruption and the force is only now overcoming its once shady reputation.
The money for the salaries is from Baghdad but has to be flown by the Americans to their base outside Fallujah.
From there some two dozen marines load the bags and boxes of cash into the truck and drive it out into the desert to wait for the police.
The police, however, were late and more stars began to appear in the darkening skies, feebly lit from the glow of the nearby marine base.
The money was destined for the state-owned Rafidain Bank, which would then disburse it to other banks in the area.
News that the bank needs another transfer always seems to come at the last minute, making the next delivery an imperative if salaries are to be paid.
Keeping government employees paid not only keeps going what meagre municipal services the battered province still has, it also keeps people from turning to the insurgency for money, according to the marines.
Suddenly in the distance appear flashing lights and then bumping across the desert road roar six blue and white police pickups accompanied by a light cargo truck.
Snouts of assault rifles poke out of windows covered by the crude metal plates the police weld on their vehicles to give then some protection from insurgent bullets or bombs.
Not one of the policemen was dressed the same, with some sporting baseball caps, and others the chequered Arab headscarves often worn by the insurgents themselves. Many cover their faces with ski masks.
The rise of an effective police force has come with its own dangers and the families of officers are regularly targeted.
Dust was kicked up as the pickups jockeyed for position but soon the police colonel restored order and box after box of money was loaded onto the trucks.
Mohammed Fandy, manager of the Rafidain Bank was on hand as well, supervising the offloading of his precious currency and telling the masked men to be careful with the heavy boxes.
Trucks loaded, the police abruptly tore off towards central Fallujah, their flashing lights highlighting them against the darkness of the desert.
The marines sped off behind them, pushing their hulking Humvees to unaccustomed speeds to keep up with the lighter police vehicles.
"Our job is security and to make sure it actually gets there," said Chief Warrant Officer Steve Townsley as his vehicle entered the dark streets of the city centre. "Not that we don't trust IPs."
The situation has not yet reached the point where the Iraqi police are solely responsible for getting the tens of billions of dinars to the bank -- although the marines would be more than happy to give up these midnight runs.
"The last one was supposed to be our last one, and now there's this one," grumbled Townsley.
The police took a short cut through the car park of the bullet-scarred town hall that sits in the city centre like an embattled Alamo, and swerved into a series of narrow alleys that left the Humvees' antennae tangled in low slung power lines.
When they caught up, the unloading had already begun, with menacing masked figures armed with light machine guns and draped in bullets guarding the dark street corners.
Less then half an hour later, the job was done and the city's coffers have been replenished for at least the next six weeks.
Except that banker Fandy then comes over and tells the marines that he's heard the long awaited government compensation for householders left destitute by the destruction of the US assault of two and a half years ago is finally ready.
"They'll soon be sending another 90 billion dinars (70 million dollars), so be ready for that," he said.
Ellie