AT WAR WITH TERRORISTS (via Rantburg):

Bus attack a suicidal new tactic (Sydney Morning Herald, 3/28/2003)

United States troops say they are dealing with a new tactic from Iraqi soldiers - a willingness to use civilians in suicide attacks to halt the American advance.

As coalition soldiers drove through a dust storm on Wednesday afternoon, fighters believed to be from Saddam Hussein's Baath Party drove a bus, the passengers still aboard, into a Bradley fighting vehicle.

The brief and vicious firefight left the road littered with bodies, all Iraqis, and wrecked vehicles. Small-arms fire cracked and popped overhead even as medical personnel attended the Iraqi wounded.

US commanders said they expect suicide attacks to become more commonplace as coalition forces move toward Baghdad.

"They have decided on suicide missions to get at us," said Charlie Company commander Captain Jason Conroy, 30. "We need to be really careful about any civilian vehicles approaching us."

He said the 7th Cavalry had lost two Abrams tanks to attacks by civilian fuel tankers. "They are just running the trucks into the tanks and exploding them. They could do the same with cars loaded with [munitions]."

Among the Iraqis captured in Wednesday's battle was one who appeared to be wearing an American-style desert camouflage uniform.

No tactic is too depraved for Saddam's regime. Careful, guys, and God bless. Posted by Paul Jaminet at March 28, 2003 6:26 PM