![Colonel Paddy Hallinan shows Brigadier Satar, left, around one of the Backscatter vans given to the Iraqi Department for Border Enforcement [Picture: Cpl Ralph Merry]](GenerateThumbnail.aspx?imageURL=/NR/rdonlyres/CEC70F25-C7D2-403D-AAF9-4F2ED178E9F5/0/HQMNDSE20071980022.jpg&maxSize=210)
Colonel Paddy Hallinan shows Brigadier Satar, left, around one of the Backscatter vans given to the Iraqi Department for Border Enforcement
[Picture: Cpl Ralph Merry]
The state of the art X-Ray machines will allow the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) to control vehicles and people coming in and out of the country through border control points.
Colonel Paddy Hallinan, commander of the Multinational Division (South East) ISF Group, formally handed over possession of the two ‘Backscatter Vans’ to Brigadier Satar, the regional Chief of Operations for the Department for Border Enforcement (DBE).
Speaking on behalf of the General Officer Commanding MND(SE), Colonel Hallinan said:
"This is part of the ongoing programme to enhance the screening process through ports of entry for the DBE. The Backscatter Vans’ capabilities provide significant technological enhancement, which in turn will increase the robustness of the screening process. All this is, of course, about enabling the Iraqis to protect the integrity of the country’s borders."
The vans, which cost 1.5 million dollars each, will be deployed to border control points around the province. Teams of experts from the Multinational Division are now training selected DBE employees to operate and maintain the machines, before posting them to the border as the technical experts on the ground.
This is an example of Iraqi and multinational forces working together to enable the ISF to develop and man systems, and take increasing responsibility for the country’s border security.