Condolence Payments in Iraq

[igoldin]

I'm doing my thesis on Condolence Payments in Iraq, and it would be extremely helpful to get in touch with someone who has some experience dealing with claims or making payments -- anyone from a JAG officer that has adjudicated claims, to a commander who has had to make a condolence payment using CERP or other funds.

I've searched through the ACLU database posted above, and it looks like about half of the FCA claims were denied based on the combat exclusion. What seems strange to me is that of those combat-excluded claims, only about 30% were offered separate condolence payments as consolation. That doesn't seem like a very good way to win hearts and minds.

I'm looking for qualitative data showing that a failure to provide a condolence payment or compensation leads to some sort of backlash by the local population.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
-Ian