permaculture

[Russ Grayson <pacedge@magna.com.au>]

The following information is reported for NGO staff/ volunteers and media personnel planning to operate in Iraq...

Sitrep 21.6.03:

United Nations reported that humanitarian assistance vehicles were being fired upon, along with those of the US military.

To the south around the Safwan area humanitarian agency vehicles already ‘running the gauntlet’ of ‘stone and rock throwing’ now report attacks by catapults and slingshots.

A media crew was attacked and beaten up at a demonstration in Baghdad following a shooting of 2 demonstrators.

The US reports that attacks on US soldiers are spiralling and that sabotage attacks against power and water installations are on the increase.  Anti-coalition leadership are issuing guidance to begin attacks again in a few weeks.  There is a general feeling of anti-American resistance.  Multiple sources report continuous attacks in the immediate future.

Convoys travelling the Baghdad / Jordan route, along with vehicles operating in the Felujah or Ramadi areas are still at ‘high risk.’  Daily reports are received of media vehicles being approached and targeted by ‘rogue’ vehicles intent on robbery and car jacking.

If anything it would appear robbers / local armed gangs are becoming more aggressive and attacks becoming more frequent, even carrying out ‘dummy’ runs in the presence of US military vehicles!

It has to be accepted though, the military are not concentrating any effort in this area. It has also been reported that in some instances – local drivers have been approached and asked to give details of impending potential ‘target vehicles’. The reward on offer for soliciting such information is apparently $US1000.

Intel: (source US Military)
The timeframe for the reported high likely hood of an impending major attack against Coalition forces and/or Westerners within Baghdad has come and gone.m However, the threat has not disappeared. The potential for an attack on coalition bases or media/NGO occupied hotels such as the Palestine/Sheraton Hotels remains a constant danger.

Additional security measures implemented at these establishments remain in place.

Local Drivers
It has recently been reported that local drivers have and in some cases still are, carrying weapons.  After discussions with numerous local drivers in Baghdad, they have stated that a majority of drivers carry weapons and were before the war began, even more so now as the incidents on attacks are on the increase.

Obviously it is down to the organisation employing the local drivers if they allow the drivers to carry weapons.  Please be aware, even though this could be an initial deterrent for the driver and passengers against potential attacks, it can also increase the threat on your crews.  (please refer to earlier brief ref armed advisors). Some agencies will not employ drivers who are carrying weapons as they realise the threat this could impose on their crews.  Again, if the threat is that bad, decide whether it is safe enough for your crews to remain in country or bring them home.

It is seriously considered that defensive measures should be taken for trips passing through or operating in the ‘high risk’ areas (mentioned earlier in this document). These measures as a minimum, should involve the use of 2 vehicles in a ‘lead and backup’ configuration.  Each vehicle should be of rugged construction E.G. GMC or Landcruiser, and as a matter of caution, vehicles should be driven by a security advisor.  This is to facilitate the use of ‘evasive / defensive’ driving techniques, which the advisors are trained to do.

It is seriously considered now that the ‘ante’ has been raised by the gangsters.  Attacks on the highways now appear to be better planned and executed.  A distinctive pattern has been reported by at least 2 sources. In a recent case where the above method was used but ‘firing’ did not take place, the intended ‘target’ vehicle was armoured and had tinted windows.  It also had ‘German’ plates.  It is believed that the robbers probably thought that the intended victims were armed, as in the case a week earlier when the four vehicle GSG9 convoy, (similar vehicles – German plates) were involved.

...sitrep ends.

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Russ Grayson
Media services:  journalism-print/ online/ photo
pacedge@magna.com.au  Phone/ fax: 02 9588 6931
PO Box 446 Kogarah NSW 2217 Australia
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