The road between the Green Zone and the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) is referred to as the "BIAP Road" or Route Irish. According to the Washington Times, "between Nov. 1, 2004, and March 12, 2005, there were 135 attacks or hostile incidents on the road. . . . There were nine complex attacks - a combination of more than one type of attack, like a roadside or car bomb and then an ambush with small-arms fire - 19 explosive devices found; 19 roadside bomb explosions; seven indirect fire attacks, three hand grenades -- often dropped from highway overpasses - 14 rocket-propelled grenades, 15 car bombs and four other types of attacks."
The military simply cannot make the road safe. The road is so dangerous that the US State Department only uses it at night, when it shuttles it staff in using large heavily armored busses escorted by humvees and helicopters.
However, the US military's job might have been slightly easier if it could have stopped the massive looting that took place shortly after the end of "major combat operations." Before the invasion, Saddam had lined both sides of the road with a tall brick wall, but the bricks were stolen by people who wanted to build houses in the neighborhood flanking either side of Route Irish. Some Iraqis believe that if the walls were still in place, it would be much harder for the bad guys to take pot shots at passing convoys.
Posted by alohafromtim
at 11:45 PM EDT