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Iraq
U.S. Finds $600 Million Cash Plus Medical Supplies
2003-04-22
EFL
U.S. soldiers trying to stop looting in Baghdad ran into a huge cache of cash - more than $600 million in $100 dollar bills hidden behind a false wall.
Another one? Or is this the same one? How many $600 million stashes do they have?
Using forklifts to handle the heavy, tightly-wrapped packets of new bills, soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division hauled the money away for safekeeping, the U.S. Central Command confirmed Tuesday. The Los Angeles Times reported last week that the 3rd Infantry found $656 million in a Tigris River neighborhood where senior Baath party and Republican Guard officials lived.
Apparently it's the same one. The money was probably earmarked for the Oil for Politicians program...
In warehouses operated by the Iraqi Ministry of Health, U.S. forces found more generators and spare generator parts than they had expected, along with plenty of medical supplies. "There are enough supplies here ... to make immediate impact on the condition of several medical facilities," Brooks said, adding that coalition forces will deliver the supplies to hospitals.
Let the lefties explain this.
Posted by:Tom

#12  I think the troops should get a 10% finders fee. It's a win-win scenario Iraqis get money for new government and GIs get nice payday (for once)! I know it belongs to the Iraqis, but it's a good thought.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2003-04-22 17:19:32  

#11  AP confirm power restored to "about 20%" of Baghdad. Much happiness life returning to normal. But still water problems, first reported cases of cholera,etc. Internal displaced returning to city, produce entering city, etc.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2003-04-22 16:51:08  

#10  centocm reported this AM that water in Basra is now better than pre-war levels. medical supplies found in warehouses exceed expectations, will be uesd to help Iraqi hospitals, coalition field hospitals (from variety of countries) will also be used. Also finding generator equipment in warehouses, will be used for hospital power.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2003-04-22 13:10:15  

#9  It must be a bummer to have all that recently looted "plug in" pirate booty from the local ministry in your cider block house that holds 28 family members, and have no way electricity to turn it on... sorta like Christmas morning with no batteries. (Move that server, Grandma Mustafa wishes to lay down.)
Posted by: Capsu78   2003-04-22 12:43:09  

#8  General Blount of 3rd ID, via CNN:
"The general also said that troops had restored power to about a quarter of the city, west of the Tigris River, but occasional outages are still expected over the next few days.

"All the power generation stations are functioning -- not at full capacity, but functioning," Blount said. "About 40 percent of the city has power today, about 80 percent tomorrow and then the last 20 percent in the next four or five days."

Posted by: liberalhawk   2003-04-22 12:24:00  

#7  BBC headline - France proposes suspension of sanctions - no details.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2003-04-22 12:21:23  

#6  "save the children" via reuters, reports still looting and gunfire in Basra at night, calmer during day, Brits and Iraqis working to restore power, water and phone service, schools open on shifts, food not yet a problem but will be, more challenging than smaller Umm Qasr.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2003-04-22 12:19:10  

#5  centcom says electricity restored to southern Baghdad (via defenselink.mil)

its going behind schedule, but its going.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2003-04-22 11:32:39  

#4  They're also saying that the tally of "suicide vests" recovered so far is around 800.
Posted by: Dar   2003-04-22 11:03:53  

#3  Old, but worth reading. The UN and Oil for Food.
Interesting accounting practices, to say the least.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/cRosett/?id=110002335
Posted by: mojo   2003-04-22 10:44:34  

#2  Odd, though, must be a cultural thing. All that cash instead of the secret account in the Cayman's.

Would be interesting to have the Secret Service track the bills involved, serial numbers, etc. Might find some interesting things out, bank involvements, money laundering schemes.
Posted by: Chuck   2003-04-22 10:21:14  

#1  According to the Boston Globe, it's another $600 Million stash
Posted by: Frank G   2003-04-22 10:01:38  

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