Cash Is Pretty

A lot of our contracts get paid in cash. The Iraqi banking system is beginning to work, but not everyone trusts it yet. For smaller projects, especially those with small businesses, it is easier to work in cash. Personally, I have only had $2000 pas through my hands as a paying agent, but two of my projects have paid out in cash to the tune of $75,000. One of our paying agents routinely handles mid-six figure cash payouts. Handling that kind of money is strange, because it just doesn't happen back home. Anyone with that amount of cash is as likely to be assumed to be a drug dealer as anything else. A lot of police forces even have seize first, ask questions later, and never give back regardless policies based on that assumption. Around here it doesn't even raise eyebrows, even when the values get into six figures. Credit cards, checks and bank drafts certainly go a long ways to making our lives more comfortable - when we use them responsibly.