TIKRIT, Iraq, Aug. 23, 2004 — U.S. soldiers with Task Force Danger delivered computers and printers to judges in the Salah ad Din Province Aug. 17 in an effort to bolster the judicial system in north central Iraq.

In addition to the computer equipment, the officials brought other items, including pistols that the judges desperately needed.

The judges have great stature in Iraq, said Najim Abed Al Wahid Jalal, chief judge for the province. Unfortunately, the judges are often the targets of forces who want to destabilize the nation.

“Anywhere in the world, there are good and bad people,” Jalal said through an interpreter. “Pistols are very important for security, not just in Iraq.”

Jalal was also delighted at the thought of modernizing his court system. He said the courts will run much more efficiently, and the province will be better able to keep track of criminals and criminal proceedings with the computers.

Lt. Col. Stuart Risch, staff judge advocate for Task Force Danger, along with Lt. Col. Jeffrey Sinclair, commander of the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, the unit responsible for the Tikrit area, delivered 13 computers, three printers and four pistols and discussed other security measures that will better protect the courts and its staff.

Since the 1st Infantry Division-led task force arrived in Iraq, its soldiers have distributed 120 computers to government entities, Maj. James R. McKee, command judge advocate for the task force’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, said.

Risch was surprised by the level of justice already in place when he arrived, he said. Justice was handed out, however, it needed to be updated. Risch said judges used carbon paper to duplicate legal paperwork. Many of the carbon sheets had been used multiple times.

“The computers will significantly increase their efficiency,

which will ultimately bring about a fair and equitable judiciary,”Risch said. “It will help bring rule of law to Tikrit, Salah ad Din and Northern Iraq.”

McKee also stressed the importance of the pistols. Judges have been assassinated, threatened and targeted by Anti-Iraqi Forces, he said. This will give the judges another layer of protection. Most have government security protecting them already, he added.

Jalal was thankful for the assistance. He said the court has contacted a member of the community for computer instruction and they will immediately start logging data into the machines.

“It’s a great pleasure to cooperate with the Coalition Forces to provide security in Iraq,” he said through an interpreter. “I would like to thank the American people, who are working to help the troops here in Iraq. We have suffered too much under the old regime for 35 years.”