From: Adam Flinton 

Where the other guy is the Iraqi people.

Adam

jeff wrote:

> .... with the other guys cash (Go read it all):
>
> http://2slick.blogspot.com/2004/11/whats-next-for-fallujah.html
>
>
> "Here's how it worked. About one week after we (the 101st) arrived in
> Mosul (approx. May 8th), every major subordinate command in the 101st
> (including mine, of course) received an order to report to Finance
> Headquarters, draw $10,000 US cash (seized assets recovered from the old
> regime) and go out and spend it. There were rules and guidelines- no
> single purchase over the amount of $2,000. Any expenditure must benefit
> the Iraqi people only, and may not result in any kind benefit to
> Coalition Forces whatsoever. No spending on entertainment for the
> Iraqis. Other than that, it was pretty much go out there and spend. I
> was selected to be my brigade's project manager because of my experience
> handling budgets and my history of successfuly dealing with Iraqis.
>
> I first went to a Civil Affairs guy who lived in the tent next to mine,
> and asked him if he had any good tips. He told me that the University
> had been severely looted, and that they could use some help with ADP
> products (monitors, disk drives, etc.). We went to the University,
> worked out the arrangements, made some connections, and delivered the
> products the next day. The purchase was simple- we went to a computer
> store across the street from the university, worked out a deal, and had
> them deliver the goods at the agreed time and place, at which time we
> paid them. We repeated this often. After our first purchase for the
> university we still had $8,000, so we stopped at a primary school and
> asked them how we could be of assistance. They were very happy to see
> us, and we communicated through our interpreter. We worked out a deal to
> get them school supplies, new school desks, chalkboards, etc.
>
> When our $10,000 ran out, we drew more and repeated the process. Every
> other major subordinate command in the 101st did the same thing we did.
> This continued for about 3 weeks.
>
> Once it became obvious that this operation was working, Division
> Headquarters decided to step things up. We were soon authorized to draw
> $250,000 at a time (usually about one draw every two weeks- and the
> maximum withdrawal amount continued to grow), and spend up to $10,000 on
> a single purchase (more if we obtained the CG's approval).
>
> 
>
>
> When it was all over, I had spent over $2.7 million, mostly on the
> University. I'm told that other Division's throughout Iraq followed our
> model, since we had so much success with it. As far as I know, CERP is
> still ongoing."

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5