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101st thwarts counterfeiter, rebuilds Mosul

Army News Service

Release Date: 8/25/2003

MOSUL, IRAQ (Army News Service, Aug. 25, 2003) -- Fort Campbell soldiers are in Iraq making arrests, rebuilding infrastructures and helping Iraq's military force get back on its feet.

Members of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) arrested a counterfeiter during an Aug. 22 raid in Mosul.

The counterfeiter was found producing sheets of 10,000 dinar bills, which are equivalent to $10. The equipment confiscated included rolls of white paper with watermarks, rolls of magnetic security bands, three sheets of 10,000 dinar bills, a press machine, a computer with money software, and other counterfeiting equipment.

As of Aug. 22, the 101st Abn. Div. had spent $1,891,444 on reconstruction in Iraq, purchased 49 hand-held radios for the Mosul Police Department and is currently looking for contractors to repair 37 miles (60 kilometers) of a two-lane road.

The division has funded 2,337 projects designed to alleviate hardship and restore the quality of life to levels equal to or higher than pre-war levels, officials said. Projects range from major infrastructure repair to humanitarian programs, including repairing medical clinics and schools, conducting road and bridge construction and refurbishing power plants.

Money for the projects comes from the Commander's Emergency Reconstruction Project program, which is funded by monies seized from the former Iraqi regime. The money is returned to the Iraqi people in ways that benefit the entire community, officials said. Brigade commanders control the funds, and assess where their area of operations would most benefit from the expenditure.

Additionally, the 101st Abn. Div. purchased 49 radios to help the newly trained police force communicate throughout the Ninevah Province. The Iraqi Public Safety Office will soon be issued a draft contract for $10 million in communications assets to go to ambulance services, fire departments, and the Ministry of Civil Defense, as well as other police officers.

The communications systems will help the Iraqi public safety organizations rebuild their infrastructure and will allow them to play a larger role in providing a safe and secure environment in Iraq, officials said.

(Editor's note: This information was compiled from several releases from the 101st Abn. Div. (AA) Public Affairs Office.)