A Gruesome Scene on Highway 9

Washington Post ^ | Tuesday, April 1, 2003 | William Branigin

[Yo-Yo]

By William Branigin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 1, 2003; Page A01

NEAR KARBALA, Iraq, March 31 -- As an unidentified four-wheel-drive vehicle came barreling toward an intersection held by troops of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, Capt. Ronny Johnson grew increasingly alarmed. From his position at the intersection, he was heard radioing to one of his forward platoons of M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles to alert it to what he described as a potential threat.

"Fire a warning shot," he ordered as the vehicle kept coming. Then, with increasing urgency, he told the platoon to shoot a 7.62mm machine-gun round into its radiator. "Stop [messing] around!" Johnson yelled into the company radio network when he still saw no action being taken. Finally, he shouted at the top of his voice, "Stop him, Red 1, stop him!"

That order was immediately followed by the loud reports of 25mm cannon fire from one or more of the platoon's Bradleys. About half a dozen shots were heard in all.

"Cease fire!" Johnson yelled over the radio. Then, as he peered into his binoculars from the intersection on Highway 9, he roared at the platoon leader, "You just [expletive] killed a family because you didn't fire a warning shot soon enough!"

So it was that on a warm, hazy day in central Iraq, the fog of war descended on Bravo Company.

Fifteen Iraqi civilians were packed inside the Toyota, officers said, along with as many of their possessions as the jammed vehicle could hold. Ten of them, including five children who appeared to be under 5 years old, were killed on the spot when the high-explosive rounds slammed into their target, Johnson's company reported. Of the five others, one man was so severely injured that medics said he was not expected to live.

[Yo-Yo]

Did a search and couldn't find this. Strange, considering it is a Drudge link.

So were warning shots really fired, or just ordered? After the suicide bombing at another checkpoint, you can't fault our guys for being extra cautious.

[CindyDawg]

Something just coming on Fox that the women were forced by SH guys to run the check point and not stop so this would happen.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Those poor women were forced to run the checkpoint because their men were being held hostage by Iraqi cowards.

[Blueflag]

I heard the same report -- a mulim cleric from the city said the occupants were ordered into the van and told to SPEED UP as they approached the checkpoint.

[Steely Tom]

This story does not make sense to me.

Maybe if I read the whole thing. But... do I want spam from the Washington Post?

(pause)

Naahhhh.

(steely)

[First_Salute]

Not enough eyes. Checkpoints require observation, and not only from the troops stationed at the checkpoint itself; observation must be in the surrounding area, and looking in all directions.

This story seems accurate to the extent that it is told; which is to say, there is much to relate, still.

The point, however, is that at least a half dozen of observers with binoculars should have been posted / roaming zones around the checkpoint and watching it with binoculars, so as to identify, well in advance, what's coming.

This problem must be addressed, also with the use of helicopters as the observers --- we need many, many more helicopters in-country. We will be using up helicopters, the closer we get to Baghdad, and especially going in and through Baghdad.

We're going to lose helicopters, and must prepare for overcoming our losses, but overall, we need close-in aerial observation of the areas around the troops on the ground.

[CindyDawg]

Yeah, supposedly family members held hostage to make sure they did it.

[EaglesUpForever]

After the suicide bombing at another checkpoint, you can't fault our guys for being extra cautious.

That point must not be forgotten. Saddam's strategy expresses his complete contempt for his own citizens. He is ultimately accountable for deaths such as these.

[uncbob]

They need some kind of staggered physical barriers down road of the check points

[Uncle Miltie]

When I approach or depart the guard shack at the local National Guard base, I do so VERY SLOWLY.

[CindyDawg]

They need some kind of staggered physical barriers down road of the check points

Yeah. I just visited my son ,who is in the navy and it was like a maze getting on base.

[monday]

"You just [expletive] killed a family because you didn't fire a warning shot soon enough!"

This sentence answers your question. Seems they were all asleep at the wheel...er...trigger. Too bad for the Iraqis killed.

I bet the guy driving the Toyota was charging the women and children inside big bucks to get them somewhere safe and so was driving way too fast in hopes of turning around and making the trip again that day. Sometimes greed can make people do stupid things. Sometimes boredom can make people do stupid things.

This sounds like a situation where lots of people were all doing stupid things at the same time. $hit happens.

[tiki]

We need to send in those strips that flatten all your tires and when they have some that run a stop they won't get far.

[CindyDawg]

Changes may need to be made, but our military aren't responsible for their deaths. If you rush a check point, you are taking your life in your own hands. I don't wish anyone killed but if it comes down to them or us, there is no choice as far as I am concerned.

[Baseballguy]

When in war you should respond to weapon fire. When do rational people not respond, when they are not rational.

I know this is a bad thing. Bad things happen. What we learn from this?

War is not pretty

[MattinNJ]

That's what I thought when I first heard this. The left can now jump up and down with joy now that the Marines have killed women and children. Like Saddam, they never stop to think about the dead or injured or the heartache of the Marine who shot them. IIRC, one of the Marines said that his wife delivered a baby girl since he's been there and he was absolutely distraught after seeing that the dead included female toddlers. Given whats happened recently, they had no choice. I'm sure that's of very little consolation to that poor hero who was forced into shooting them.

[ClearCase_guy]

We need to send in those strips that flatten all your tires and when they have some that run a stop they won't get far.

In Lebanon (1981?) We lost 241 Marines because somebody ran a checkpoint and the guards did not have bullets in their guns. There comes a time when shooting the car that runs the checkpoint, is exactly the right thing to do. Flattening their tires is not sufficient.

[mabelkitty]

Yes, I also heard there was another car right behind it, and they turned around and took off afterward.

[Conspiracy Guy]

DITTO. The Wash Post spin sucks though.

[AmericanInTokyo]

whatever. well, the word out now is that the poort family was either whipped up into a Jihad frenzy to do it, or were threatened by Ba'athist thugs to run the roadblock. as was suspected. breaking.