IED Patrol
near Radio Relay Point 3, Iraq 130 miles south of Baghdad November 11, 2005 with Charlie Co, 142nd Infantry, Texas National Guard
Early morning on the main supply route running south from Baghdad to Kuwait. The soldiers based at Radio Relay Point 3 (RP3) are out checking the highway near their base for improvised explosive devices, called IEDS, which is the official name for the roadside bombs that do so much damage to American forces. This area is relatively quiet. There have only been a couple of IED attacks on this stretch of road in the past six months. Usually what happens is the insurgents come through the area, lay the bomb and then get out. The locals are not generally cooperative. The soldiers say a local who shot a mortar bomb into the nearby American base, called Scania, was caught buy the local sheikh, who beheaded him and stuck the head on a pole. The sheikh didn't like the loss of business caused by the local market shutting down after the attack. On the other hand IEDs are no joke. More than half of American casualties in this war have come from roadside bombs, according to one study. A vehicle-borne bomb at a checkpoint about 10 miles north of here took out all the soldiers at a checkpoint this month. Improvised bombs are bad news. The soldiers drive steadily down the road, looking at the sides. They look for anything with wire sticking out of it. Parcels, packages dead animal, anything that the insurgents might stuff with an IED. This highway is asphalt, which helps, as the insurgents would have to burrow under the surface to get the bomb close enough to vehicles to do much damage. A fanciful threat, but real. They�ve taken out vehicles in other parts of Iraq doing just that. The soldiers stop at each bridge in their area. They scan underneath the bridges. Insurgents like to place bombs tucked up under the ceiling of the overpass, because the blast can more easily get at the gunner standing in the open-topped turret of any vehicles passing underneath. They check the road surface on top of the overpass as well. Many of these roadways on top have holes dug along the edges, required for some inexplicable Iraqi construction technique. All must be checked. One humvee tackles the west two lanes, another humvee takes the east two lanes of this four-lane highway. They are complementing the specialized anti-IED vehicles that also make the morning patrol looking for roadside bombs along this route. The Buffaloes and other South African vehicles, manned by Americans, are ugly but highly effective, developed over 20 years fighting the African National Congress in their own guerilla war that finished in the '90s. The soldiers drive down the road and stop near an abandoned car. This deserves special attention. Vehicle borne IEDS are among the worst, because a car can easily carry 500 pounds of explosive, enough to probably destroy a humvee. This car is propped up on a jack, its left rear tire missing. A soldier looks inside anyway. Better safe than sorry. The soldiers roll on, and talk with two Iraqis standing under a bridge. They see these two men often, and chat on most days. It�s not exactly hearts and minds, because the Iraqis are willing to talk and its no great effort. More like an easy exchange borne of familiarity rather than forced fellowship. Then the patrol reaches the end of its terriroty, turns aroudn and passes back up the road, heading for another days work in their area. They'll be on this same road several more times today. All eyes in the humvee watch for IEDs every time they are out, on this main supply route or on the back country tracks surrounding their base. The threat is that strong, and no one wants to be the dummy who gets killed and becomes an example to other soldiers about the dangers of complacency and letting your guard down.
Early morning on the main supply route running south from Baghdad to Kuwait. The soldiers based at Radio Relay Point 3 (RP3) are out checking the highway near their base for improvised explosive devices, called IEDS, which is the official name for the roadside bombs that do so much damage to American forces. This area is relatively quiet. There have only been a couple of IED attacks on this stretch of road in the past six months. Usually what happens is the insurgents come through the area, lay the bomb and then get out. The locals are not generally cooperative. The soldiers say a local who shot a mortar bomb into the nearby American base, called Scania, was caught buy the local sheikh, who beheaded him and stuck the head on a pole. The sheikh didn't like the loss of business caused by the local market shutting down after the attack. On the other hand IEDs are no joke. More than half of American casualties in this war have come from roadside bombs, according to one study. A vehicle-borne bomb at a checkpoint about 10 miles north of here took out all the soldiers at a checkpoint this month. Improvised bombs are bad news. The soldiers drive steadily down the road, looking at the sides. They look for anything with wire sticking out of it. Parcels, packages dead animal, anything that the insurgents might stuff with an IED. This highway is asphalt, which helps, as the insurgents would have to burrow under the surface to get the bomb close enough to vehicles to do much damage. A fanciful threat, but real. They�ve taken out vehicles in other parts of Iraq doing just that. The soldiers stop at each bridge in their area. They scan underneath the bridges. Insurgents like to place bombs tucked up under the ceiling of the overpass, because the blast can more easily get at the gunner standing in the open-topped turret of any vehicles passing underneath. They check the road surface on top of the overpass as well. Many of these roadways on top have holes dug along the edges, required for some inexplicable Iraqi construction technique. All must be checked. One humvee tackles the west two lanes, another humvee takes the east two lanes of this four-lane highway. They are complementing the specialized anti-IED vehicles that also make the morning patrol looking for roadside bombs along this route. The Buffaloes and other South African vehicles, manned by Americans, are ugly but highly effective, developed over 20 years fighting the African National Congress in their own guerilla war that finished in the '90s. The soldiers drive down the road and stop near an abandoned car. This deserves special attention. Vehicle borne IEDS are among the worst, because a car can easily carry 500 pounds of explosive, enough to probably destroy a humvee. This car is propped up on a jack, its left rear tire missing. A soldier looks inside anyway. Better safe than sorry. The soldiers roll on, and talk with two Iraqis standing under a bridge. They see these two men often, and chat on most days. It�s not exactly hearts and minds, because the Iraqis are willing to talk and its no great effort. More like an easy exchange borne of familiarity rather than forced fellowship. Then the patrol reaches the end of its terriroty, turns aroudn and passes back up the road, heading for another days work in their area. They'll be on this same road several more times today. All eyes in the humvee watch for IEDs every time they are out, on this main supply route or on the back country tracks surrounding their base. The threat is that strong, and no one wants to be the dummy who gets killed and becomes an example to other soldiers about the dangers of complacency and letting your guard down.
posted by Doug at 8:23 AM
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