Slow pay for Iraq troops fuels problems

[deadparrot]

BAGHDAD, April 30 (UPI) -- For soldiers in Iraq's 7th Army Division, the most popular American may be the Marine from Camp Pendleton who delivers their pay.

Few Americans are greeted as warmly as Maj. John Bilas, who spent several days recently distributing more than $2 million to soldiers in Al Anbar province, the heart of Iraq's Sunni Arab-led insurgency.

Armed with heavy sacks of cash, the Marine traveled by Black Hawk helicopter and Humvee convoy to reach the troops, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

Because the Iraqi Defense Ministry lacks an effective disbursement system, Marine officials say Iraqi soldiers are routinely paid late, sometimes waiting as long as six months. The lag time fuels desertion, with rates running as high as 40 percent among some units.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060430-015113-3444r

[Zachstar]

1. Must feel great

Wonder how good that is for morale when you get a pay that late.

We can have a good system you betcha we can blow up a 700 ton bomb!

:sarcasm:

[Miss Chybil]

2. Where's Diebold when you need them?

Seems they could use a few ATMs scattered among the dunes. Jesus. Can't this administration do anything right?

[benny05]

3. This Administration Has No Love for our Patriots

It's almost poor Americans genocide.

Thank goodness for the DU and the progressive blogs. Our friggin' media refuses to do anything about this President--unlike the media of the Nixon days.

[stillcool]

4. think of all the money they're saving...

six months later, a lot less to pay.