The shortages of equipment and phone cards for our own troops is pretty compelling, but the Iraqi police who are being trained and sent to fight alongside our soldiers are also severely lacking in equipment. In fact, they have even less of the basic necessities like clothing, helmets, protective gear, and handcuffs.

I saw a segment about this on a Seattle news channel just yesterday. While we're supporting our own guys, we also need to support the Iraqis who are also starting to play an increasingly important role.

Chief Steven J. Newton (Ret.) has organized an operation to collect donations of much needed supplies and get them to the Iraqi police:

"I am asking for donations of old uniforms, vests, shoes, leather gear, web gear, batons, helmets, face shields, handcuffs and whatever you can spare in the way of equipment. (Please no prohibited items such as firearms, etc) These donations will help our brother officers and our young men and women who are desperately trying to secure Iraq. Remember you do not have to be FOR the war to support our troops and our fellow police officers."

Please send all items to CPT Liz Young, HQs, MNSTC-I/Baghdad, APO AE 09316

Chief Newton's website:

http://home.att.net/~steven.newton1/donate.html

Nice, thanks for posting that.