Publication:Chattanooga Times Free Press
Date:Saturday, March 26, 2005
Section:Front Page; Page:1

DISPATCH IRAQ

By Edward Lee Pitts
Military Affairs

CAMP CALDWELL, Iraq -- One Iraqi border patrol officer was killed and two wounded Tuesday night after a 278th Regimental Combat Team unit opened fire when the Iraqis failed to stop their vehicle at a roadblock.

"It was an unfortunate incident between our troops and the border enforcement troops," said 1st Squadron Capt. Mitch Murray. "Unfortunately in times of war things like this happen."

The shooting occurred about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday when a vehicle with one headlight missing attempted to run through a security traffic checkpoint set up by 1st Squadron soldiers south of Qazaniyah, according to Maj. Tim Cleveland, the squadron's operations officer.

"At that point the gunner felt threatened by the erratic actions of the vehicle," Maj. Cleveland said. "All soldiers in Iraq are trained that in a split second they have to make a decision. You don't know if that is the enemy or not. There is no room for error."

Insurgents often use car bombs to attack U.S. and Iraqi security forces conducting patrols or monitoring traffic checkpoints, Maj. Cleveland said. A suicide bomber killed 14 Iraqis last month when he rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into a truck in the city of Balad Ruz, in the 278th's sector.

The head of the area's Department of Border Enforcement said the border patrol officers were not supposed to be in that area with that vehicle at that time, according to Maj. Cleveland.

U.S. forces evacuated the most seriously wounded officer to a coalition forces medical center where he died of his injuries. The two other officers were treated at the scene.

Maj. Cleveland said the Iraqi people are used to traffic checkpoints and familiar with the procedures for stopping at them now that U.S.-led coalition forces have been in Iraq for more than two years.

"Everyone in Iraq who drives these roads knows how the American army operates," he said.

Military officials are investigating the shootings.

E-mail Lee Pitts at lpitts@timesfreepress.com

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