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U.S. Troops Seize Cash, Gems in Iraq Raids
37 minutes ago
By Charles Aldinger
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. troops raided two farmhouses near Tikrit north of Baghdad on Wednesday and seized millions of American dollars, British pounds, Euros and Iraqi dinars apparently designated in part to pay bounties to kill American soldiers, a senior U.S. general said.
Army Maj. Gen. Ray Odierno told Pentagon (news - web sites) reporters in a teleconference from Tikrit that his troops took control of $8.5 million dollars, 300 to 400 million dinars, uncounted English pounds and Euros and jewels valued at up to $1 million.
Odierno, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, said the latest in a series of raids aimed at trying to halt increasing ambush attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq (news - web sites), also resulted in the capture of up to 50 of former President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s Special Republican Guard and security forces.
No U.S. troops were injured in the raids, he said.
The general told reporters that part of the money had likely been set aside by members of Saddam's outlawed Baath Party to pay paramilitary and other supporters of the missing president to kill American troops.
"They have put a bounty on shooting at American soldiers and trying to kill U.S. soldiers," he said in response to questions. "There is a bounty out there in some cases. I am not willing to comment on how much it is because I really don't know."
Other Saddam and Baath supporters captured in recent raids "have said on several occasions that they are paid a certain amount for shooting at American soldiers," Odierno added.
"But there has not been a specific amount that has been consistent ... I think a lot of the time they exaggerate it very much when they tell us because they try to make an impression on their interrogators."
CASH AND JEWELS
The general said the raids on the farmhouses -- one north of and the other west of Saddam's hometown of Tikrit -- had uncovered cash and jewels just hours before he spoke.
"In addition, we confiscated late model Russian-made night vision goggles, sniper rifles, uniforms and equipment of Saddam's personal guard. We detained 15 to 20 individuals associated with Saddam's special security forces," Odierno said.
"We also conducted a cordon and stopped a vehicle with over $800,000 of U.S. dollars in it (which) was trying to flee from that scene. In addition, we are currently inside of two other sites where we believe we have cornered off and captured up to 30 additional Saddam Special Republican Guards forces."

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