5/21/2007
Rules of Engagement - VBIED
American Soldier says,
I shot at a man once for driving his vehicle towards me in Iraq. He was off the road and at an accelerated pace. He was within 100 meters before I shot him and even then it would have been too late if he had set off his charge. The scenario played out in my head over and over after and even to this day I think about that day.
I wondered if he was just a pawn trying to test our limit and how we would react to that situation. The terrorists we fought against were testy little pricks. It was almost like a game of cat and mouse sometimes. They knew our ROE (Rules of Engagement) and always seemed to reach the point of almost getting killed. However, on this day it played out a little different. I never tried to go out of my way to hurt anyone. Sometimes you had to be rough and other times it wasn’t needed, but you never gave an inch. This particular day was like any other day in Ramadi. It was morning time and curfew was just coming off. We were doing our rounds in and out of the city. Keeping the main roadways clear and sustaining a watchful eye of people stopping and dropping. This was a common method to drop IED’s when a vehicle comes to a stop and they just drive on. One thing that was a challenge in the city was the amount of traffic in the morning. It would build up and despite having an up-armored vehicle you couldn’t move an entire column of traffic. You could bump and grind at times but things always seemed to bottle neck at certain points. You tried your best to not fall in those situations. My crew and I decided to keep at the lower part of one road. There was a Bradley at the other end so they could also watch for people dropping things from their vehicle.
I decided to stop a car to inspect it. It was lowered in the rear and 9 out of 10 times the weight is from tires, bad shocks or just random items in a trunk. You can never be too careful. So I had my other truck pull security in front of us by pulling ahead of the suspicious vehicle and my gunner turned around to ensure no other vehicles came towards us. I always tried my best to provide 360 degree coverage. Anyway, the search was routine. Most are when you have guns pointing in your general direction. I was looking under one of the seats when I heard one of my guys yell, then a shot rang out. I jumped out and saw this vehicle moving towards us fast.
Now, I know this sounds crazy but I remember in some situations, things seemed to just go in slow motion. This was one of them. I raised my weapon up and fixed the vehicle into my reflex sight. Here is how it broke down.
- There was already a verbal warning.
- Visual warning.
- A warning shot.
- The vehicle was still coming.
All of this had been done within a few seconds. I estimated that the vehicle was about 100 meters give or take from us. I squeezed my trigger and a single shot, found its ways into the driver’s side window, center mass….
The vehicle turned a little and finally came to a rolling stop….
If the vehicle would have blown up, my men would have been killed most likely. 100 meters with a VBIED is sure death. The Rules of Engagement are a guideline and you do your best to ensure you follow them in the order prescribed. Sometimes you have to go from waving them off to a disabling shot or even a kill shot. Every time you pull the trigger, you question your decision, which is reality. You have mere seconds to decide if you will kill someone or hesitate. You develop these instincts in war that seem to heighten the will to survive.
The point of this entry is to give you a glimpse of what reality can be like when faced with such tight rules that can cost you your life. Like I said, you develop the instinct and learn it at an accelerated rate from trial and error. Seeing your buddies hurt or killed is that accelerator. The ROE is your worst enemy in war. However, it can be your best friend when you rationalize the decision to kill someone.
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33 Responses to “Rules of Engagement - VBIED”
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You did what you had to do… in that split-second you had to decide, you did what you felt was most likely to save your soldiers’ lives, as well as your own. I know that can’t be an easy thing to have on your mind…I’ve never been in that situation, of course… because you and thousands others are in that situation, on my behalf - so my family and I can sleep safe at night and not have to worry about things like this… you do the worrying for us… and have to live with the aftermath of it all…. have i said “thank you” lately?
If not… thank you.
Hugs & prayers & gratitude,
MommaKat & family
“…so my family and I can sleep safe at night and not have to worry about things like this…”
Kat in GA:
Are you still buying the bullshit? Seriously?
This war is for oil and empire.
I don’t blame the troops, I support them and am appalled that many are being sent for three and four rotations and then treated like dirt when they come home, bloodied and scarred, not by citizens but by the administration that sent them there. I blame a lying corrupt government that sent our troops and our National Guard to secure the oil fields for ExxonMobile, BP and Shell. War contractors (that didn’t even exist in 2004) are getting filthy rich off the blood of our soldiers and Iraqi men, women and children.
Wise up and start reading. This patriotic nonsense is really getting old.
Kat in MN,
I approved this comment cause I want to direct my response to you and in the open. How can you possibly respond the way you do, from your comfortable chair, in your safe little abode? You have no clue what is really going on over there do you? You take this far left stance about the ‘government’, but yet you throw out bullshit Michael Moore propaganda. Come on, don’t fool yourself. I never guarded any oil fields. Do soldiers guard such fields, yes they do. Certain groups of people would love to blow that shit up. Whether we had stock in those fields before the war, now or tomorrow, is that the basis of your frustration? Are you going to blame 9/11 on Bush as well?
You’re an idiot, prove to me your service to our country and factual data and I will concede my comments to you. I think I’ve proven mine.
AS,
Thank you for your candor about some of the things that you had to do in Iraq. You had to do what you had to do to survive in that situation. You are a warrior and a darned good one!
Thank God for men like you who sacrifice for those of us who can’t do what you do. Thank you so much for going to war to keep us here at home safe! I do so appreciate you and the many soldiers like you!
My husband was in the sandbox for a year and I remember wondering if he would be faced with a similar situation. Thankfully he never was, but my respect for him wouldn’t have changed if he had. I am blessed to have never been in a situation where my life is in immediate danger so I can’t say what I would do. From what he’s told me and what I’ve read, you only did what was necessary.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and that you and your family for the sacrifices you have made for me and my family.
The dreams never go away, but they do subside. Not really prepared for the after effects of combat they cut you lose to go on with life. No complaints but living with deeds is a fact of life. Our fathers did it and so will our sons.
We are better men for it in someways and need not have people suggest we are part of a goverment oil cover up. These people make me sick. Suggesting the commenter is from Minnesota, makes me sicker. Seeing the larger world view is simply to difficult for some. And navie of us all.
Take care bud, Semper Fi!
Once again, the concept of “I support the troops, but…..” comes out. Those who state such things don’t see the hypocrisy of their statements, and fail to realize the threat of Islamic Terrorism to our existence here.
AS had to make a judgement call, one not all of us are willing to make. He had to judge not only the importance of his life, but also the lives of others around him. He made that call, and because of that, will have memories that the rest of us in our comfortable lives will never make. Our biggest concern is whether some fast food restaurant is using trans-fats to make stuff, or some other silly “danger.” There are many who are more comfortable dealing with these types of dangers (even the world ending in 5 years due to Global Warming), than having to face a fanatical, dedicated religious foe whose is willing to die to see the entire world go Islamic. They can control those types of dangers, rather than having to face something that is beyond their control and manipulation.
Thanks AS again for what you have done. In my mind, you had to do what you did. I, for one, will not be second guessing what our warriors had to do to protect themselves. I was not there, but I am firmly in the belief that our troops are number one, and they need to do what they need to do to come home safely.
I agree with you David, but it more then a judgment call. Saying that suggests that he may have made a wrong choice. Its a war zone and AS knew from experience that this is a tactic the enemy uses to attack. He was doing a job, and preformed it with professional soldiering!
Your writings put a human touch and a human vulnerabilities on something that I know is never cut and dried. I am sure you did what you had to do, hard as that was and is… None of the terrorists over in Iraq or Afghanistan are going to flash a “I am coming to get you” sign..you have to make life or death decisions in a fraction of a second.
It’s one thing to support what we, as Americans are doing in this war on terror, its another to see and hear about the realities of what you have to handle on a daily basis.
Thank you if I could I would offer you a huge hug and my gratitude.
Thank you for being there, to defend life here.
If the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were about “oil and empire” as the one commenter suggests, where’s the oil and empire?
I don’t see American hands laying claim to either the oil or the land or any other resource in either nation. What I do see is America and her allies trying to help others create their own free nation by unleashing the yoke of home-grown oppression.
You’d think that that sort of “oil and empire” rant would fade away as time has proven such claims are untrue.
I support the troops and their mission. I don’t believe it is possible to support one and not the other.
Web Reconnaissance for 05/22/2007…
A short recon of whats out there that might draw your attention….
Oil. HA! (my apologies for following this departure from the topic)
Kat in MN, and others like you, do a little research, please. The US oil lobby was AGAINST the war. They were even against sanctions. Why? Because they know they could get access to any Iraqi oil they want, just like everyone else did- bribery. Chevron etc were ready and willing- in fact, they were already exporting oil from Iraq before the war! What has changed? Only this: Before the war, Saddam was able to distribute the “rights” to buy Iraqi oil in exchange for favors, or graft. Now, it all goes free market. Anyone can bid for it, open, transparent, legit, above-board all the way. You want some Iraqi oil? All you have to do is get off your a@@ and BUY it, like brokers do in Brazil, Turkey, India, Italy, China…
NOT ONE GALLON has been seized by the United States as spoils of this war. Not a drop, and we still have this ignorant and vile accusation being spewed by those who refuse to learn.
American Soldier’s actions were entirely in the right, and what’s more, his cause- our cause- is in the right.
Ben
dtodeen, you bring up an interesting point on my choice of words on “Judgement call.” You are right on what you said. I knew what I was saying, but I unfortunately didn’t get my thoughts to match my words. It was not the first time, and I surely do know it will not be the last. lol
I did not intend for my words to be interpreted that way, but you did make me think about the wording and what I said. Thx.
Found your blog also, and am looking at it now. Thx for what you have done.
AS - thank you for your service. Words aren’t enough. Never doubt yourself - the enemy never does and neither should we. We have an enemy before us and we must take the fight to them with everything we have, nothing wavering, and finish the job with victory.
I think people who publicly protest our troops and/or our mission should be tried for treason for supporting and emboldening our enemies. Think what you want but if it’s not in support of our troops or our mission, keep it out of public forums until the war is over. Censorship? No - survival. We’re there and we must finish the job regardless of what you think about why we’re there. Protesters are killing our boys and giving comfort to our enemy. Sorry for beating around the bush.
AS,
It’s past midnight, I haven’t studied for my portuguese test tomorrow (what for), and I just finished reading ur last post. Why? I don’t know, I’m fascinated by all the psicological factor around war. The way the soldiers feel about fighting away from home. The way they feel about fighting…
Man you took the right call, you gotta be prepared. Most surprise attacks work because the victims just open their mouths wide in surprise and watch the events roll. Next time (hope there won’t be a next time) you’ll probably shoot the driver earlier to protect your men. You guys should watch your backs ’till your outta there, and don’t mind with “reasons”.
We don’t have these issues here. We’re a small simple country, we’ll probably have at least a century of peace, unless someone messes with us first (again, what for? wine?). Our politicians are as ambitious as my little sister.
The US, on the other hand, can afford war across the atlantic for economic/political reasons. You have the cash, the gear and the men. Personaly, I think that if you haven’t won the war yet is because the government isn’t in a hurry. The terrorists can only hide, they don’t have either the cash, the gear, or the men. They’re trapped in their ideals and their relligion. If it wasn’t for being at “holy war” for all these centuries, they could have kept the pace of western civilization. They can’t blame the west for their misery. They caused it. They are criminals for attacking the west, and must be stopped.
Keep it real man.
Over ‘n’ out
AS,
It seems that the more time I spend reading the things that you write and the comments of others who read them, the more I wonder about the reality of this war. Too many people don’t see it for what it is, for what it was, maybe for what it will soon become.
Your honesty is refreshing. A little of your soul is revealed once more and it keeps me coming back.
In case *I* have been remiss, I too thank you.
The Butterfly Temptress
Liked your post and thought I’d drop a link to a video I just put up — it’s a poem about my deployment to Iraq. Let me know what you think! - Rod
I just want to say thank you for all that you are doing. I am proud to be an American and support you guys 100%. I think that maybe many of these protesters to the war haven’t stopped to think what their life would be like if we had war here. Perhaps they can’t understand the reality of it, but I am so grateful to our soldiers for keeping us safe here. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! God Bless…..Rose
There are days when I wonder if the pain will go away if the sadness is a comfort I cling to so I dont have to feel the void.
Soilder -
Each breath you draw every step you take you are in the company of family. You did what you were trained to do. You evaluated the situation and reacted with percision. I an others like me will stand at your back, to your side and in front. You are my family when no other understands that that we can only vaguely explain to those who have not seen the horrors in our mind. Stand tall Stand Proud Your family is large and gathered here.
Just the thoughts of One Vet 2 Another
AS - all I can say is I support you and what you had to do. Kat in MN is another useless idiot. Your writing on your head pain brought home to me a glimpse into the dragons you and your family are fighting. You seem to be in such a dark place and I want so bad for the doctors to make it better. There’s nothing more for me to say other than you are in my prayers.
# dtodeen Says:
I agree with you David, but it more then a judgment call. Saying that suggests that he may have made a wrong choice. Its a war zone and AS knew from experience that this is a tactic the enemy uses to attack. He was doing a job, and preformed it with professional soldiering!
Posted on May 22nd, 2007 at 9:31 am | Link
EXACTLY!!! Thank you, AS. And your wife, too. I admire her no end.
The trouble is not what you did. I would have done the same in the same conditions. It’s why you were there. And you shouldn’t have been there, nor any of the 160,000 soldiers in Iraq. That’s what you should question.
What One vet 2 another said…….agreed.
You did what you had to do. I am glad you are alive to tell of it.
I pray for you daily. An effort of love for one who has given so much. Perhaps your healing will take time. Please know many are doing the same.
Have faith and hope. We admire your strength and humanity. Build on it. We will do the work together.
You are never alone. God bless and keep.
i also shot a man in a similar situation. been there for two years and going back for my third. we pulled over a truck with over a billion dollars worth o gold in it… a man came to a stop next to us, opened his trunk and reached in for something. we were given the order to shoot. i was on the SAW, i guess the rest is just a nightmare in my head. we took care of what needed to be done. i understand what happend to you and i agree with what you did. thanx for what you have done. i wish i could say that was my only run in with the gooners, but i can’t. keep on keepin on bro, b
They wouldn’t help for the vbieds but as for the ones they’re dropping off, how has your luck been with the warlock systems or the ones offered by www.compnine.com?
Hope you make it back safely!
They wouldn’t help for the vbieds but as for the ones they’re dropping off, how has your luck been with the warlock systems or the ones offered by www.compnine.com?
Hope you make it back safely!
Citizens Brigade,
I really don’t think your system will work to be frank. You may produce a system that is good for todays battle but the enemy changes it and the environment is constantly changing. It would really suck to find out that your system doesn’t protect against drop and go’s. Only one way to find out and that’s not to get blown up.
Email me directly and we can chat some more.
OpSec on the Warlock System.
No no, I’m curious for my own sake to get a first hand account. You seem to be on the up-and-up with all the ‘cool’ stuff out there. I’ll pull together more info then email you to get your full thoughts.
Kat in MN has committed himself to living in an illution daily reinforces by the media, enabling him to state memorized sound bites like someone praying the rosary only here his god is made of clay.
After 9/11 and Taliban defeat in Afghanistan, Iraq remained a haven for terrorists. Hussein’s domination over oil wealth and 25 million citizens provided the supportive environment cherished by degreed professionals for planning extravagant slaughters utilizing modern science, engineering and sociological incites. Hence, his rule always constituted a greater threat to international peace and security, than pariahs such as bin Laden or Zawahiri, who emerged from the Salafi/Wahhabi heresy. David Kay’s inspections confirmed an extraordinary dangerous Iraq, where freelance as well as state sponsored WMD programs were underway, and terrorist groups moved about freely.
The war against Saddam Hussein was resumed because Bush #2 finally obeyed U.N. and confirming Congressional mandates. The U.N.’s primary responsibility “to maintain international peace and security” directed U.N. passage of Resolution 678 “to use all necessary means to restore international peace and security in the area” after Hussein invaded Kuwait. Notice the resolution did not instruct the U.S. lead coalition to expel Hussein from Kuwait. The broader term “in the area” used phraseology of the previous U.N. resolution authorizing coalition military action above the 38th parallel in Korea. After the Inchon landing both the U.N. and Congress confirmed the intension to conduct military operations to disarm North Korea.
Resolution 687 incorporated 678 and 19 previous resolutions without amendment and offered Hussein a unilateral and conditional ceasefire in 1991. Instead, he ignored the responsibility to submit a comprehensive declaration of all WMD stockpiles and programs, and missiles with greater than 150 kilometer range. He thwarted the inspection program envisioned by menacing, parrying, and finally expelling the inspectors in 1998. He also continued forbidden involvement in international terrorism. Bush #1, U.N. and Clinton did not revoke the ceasefire in response to Hussein’s repeated material breaches as inspectors resorted to surveillance, analysis and investigation to destroy materials and interrupt programs. Resolution 1441, which fully incorporated Resolutions 678 and 687 gave Hussein one last chance to comply, which he refused to do.
Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill envisioned re-establishment of collective security when founding the U.N. in San Francisco. Finally in 2003 the United States, heading a coalition exceeding that Churchill and Roosevelt assembled to confront Hitler’s Germany, toppled Hussein’s regime and forced the U.N. to confront the reason for its’ existence. In that moment Sun Tzu’s teachings to frustrate the enemy’s plans, break his alliances and subvert his internal organization had been realized and the war was successfully resumed.
Osama bin Laden contends the most important issue for the world now is his winning in Iraq. Zawahiri says al Qaeda victory restores the basis for a Caliphate encompassing the Middle East. Expatriate Muslims tell us the Salafi/Wahhabi heresy disregards traditional family, tribe and cultural Muslim allegiances; regards other peoples as sub-human, legitimate objects for slaughter whether Jew, Shi’a, Sunni, or Christian; and provides no caveats for economic or human remnants.
Persevering for viable Iraqi government delivers a crushing, irreversible defeat to al Qaeda by allowing political domination by constituencies committed to national/international harmony. Risking victory in Iraq means choosing a world where other countries become emboldened to exclude brutal, depraved elements from their societies, and where terrorists find no safe haven for planning a technologically advanced Dark Age. Allowing our troops to win means destroying the capacity for malevolent fantasies to become incalculable miseries within our country.
Information like above ends up in letters to the editor and letters to Congress. I seldom get any response other than angry personal attacks. I have always had the last word with our congressman’s office. I just respond with a longer letter expanding with facts about points at issue.
I think… I think I may have dreamt leaving a post here a couple days ago… I’m sorry it didn’t make it through my dreams.
You did what you had to do dear Soldier, and we will not second guess you. We weren’t there.
I pray for you to achieve the peace and acceptance you need to live… to live like you deserve to.
You are on my mind and in my prayers, always… goodnight dear Soldier.
In a country where freedom is cherished…why can’t I support the men women of our military without supporting the war? I’ve been a republican my entire life…however this does not mean I will blindly support every action any high-ranking government official who happens to be republican makes. I don’t like George Bush, I don’t think he’s an intelligent person and I think his staff leave a lot to be desired.
Also, I just came across your blog today and am touched by your words. Thank you for your service, I do sleep better at night knowing people like you are in our armed forces.
I am writing this on June 6, 2007. The 63rd anniversary of D-Day. This morning on the way to work I had the good fortune of hearing President Roosevelt’s 6 minute long prayer that was broadcast to the entire nation on June 6, 1944. It was so moving I cried. But more than that, it should be an urgent reminder that Americans today must pull together, support our troops, continue to fight for democracy and defend freedom. Period. There is no, “I support the troops, but…”. No, Rosie O’Donnell , Americans are not the terrorists. Terrorists cut off innocent people’s heads, feed their own people into shredders on city streets, stone women to death for being “accused” of adultery, and yes, condemn homosexuals to death. Americans sacrifice 10,000 of their sons on the beaches of Normandy to stop a madman named Hitler. Americans are always the first responders to worldwide disasters, providing relief in the form on money, food and first aid. America opens its borders and offers asylum to the oppressed. American even financially supports its own illegal immigrants. No, America is far from perfect. But we are the BEST country on this Earth. If you don’t think so, PLEASE go live somewhere else…where you probably won’t be able to freely whine and complain about how bad you have it.
I really do not understand a lot about this war (other than what I get in the media) or what good it may or may not do in the future. I don’t like or agree with war, but it’s waged for greater reasons in the long run than I can fathom and has always been a part of us. I feel I can still be a supporter of the troops and not like the idea of war.
One thing I would not do is make blanket statements about war for oil and other Michael Moore -type statements. I certainly would not say such a thing on a soildier’s blog as if I was on youtube.com watching a 9/11 conspiracy video. But people do what they want. No one is going to change anyone’s mind.
By the way, I can’t believe how many people believe that 9/11 was an inside government job. It intuitvely and rationally doesn’t gel with me at all. I tend to want to run the other way when I hear that.
Thank you for sharing your story and having a blog, dear soldier. Yours is the first solider in Iraq entry I’ve read. I have made a point to find some soldier blogs to read. Stay safe and thank you for your service.