July 10,
2008: Iraqi motorists now have a very
real sign of the recent defeat of local terrorists. In more and more parts of the
country, drivers no longer have to pull off the road when a U.S. military
convoy approaches. In a similar fashion to drivers, worldwide, pulling over
when an emergency vehicle (fire truck or ambulance) approaches, the U.S.
military instituted this rule early on, when terrorists began using roadside bomb, car bombs and ambushes against
American convoys. The "pull over" rule gave the terrorists far fewer
opportunities to attack successfully, but was a hassle for Iraqi drivers. It
was often fatal for Iraqi drivers who refused to pull over and drove close to
U.S. convoys looking, to American gunners, like a car bomber. But now U.S.
commanders are confident enough about security in Iraq that many roads will now
feature U.S. military vehicles stuck in traffic jams like everyone else.
