BRIEF

Bus Stop

We felt it was important to put this clip into context because it has been featured in numerous documentary films.  Dozens of websites also feature the footage without permission and out of context.  One jihadi site proclaimed it to be U.S. soldiers using Iraqi civilians for target practice in the prelude to the battle for Fallujah 2004. 

Here is the real story.  That morning, April 9, 2003, 7th Marine Regiment approached Baghdad juggling numerous missions.  3rd Battalion was tasked to secure the al Rasheed military facility because, among other things, it was believed that Private Jessica Lynch and other captured US soldiers might be incarcerated in the prison facilities at al Rasheed.  The base itself was abandoned but before fleeing the Iraqis had moved a significant number of heavy weapons under the freeway overpass just north of the base, between the Marines and Baghdad proper.  Sporadic gunfire was exchanged all morning.   As the Marines prepared to leave for the next objective, a bus somehow got past their security perimeter and drove into the heart of their position.  Marines responded immediately with Mark 19 grenades, 50 caliber rounds and sniper fire.  There had been reports of at least two VBIEDs in the Army’s area of operation, resulting in killed and injured soldiers. Orders were that no vehicles were allowed to enter or get near the Marines’ position.

Myself, I was eating an MRE when the bus rolled in (it wasn’t very good I remember), which is why it took me a minute to swing the camera around and start filming, although I saw the rounds hit the bus and the bus catch fire.  Worried that it might be a VBIED, it took me another few seconds to get behind the limited protection of a cement wall. 

There were three Iraqis on the bus, two received multiple gun shot wounds but were immediately given medical attention by the Navy corpsmen attached to the Marines.  They were then sent to regimental hospital for further medical care.  A third man exited the bus and was killed by Marine gunfire as he inadvertently ran toward the company commander’s AAV.  ID taken from the two survivors showed them to be lower level Iraqi Army officers. After examining the situation it didn’t appear they had any hostile intent, although personal weapons were found in and around the bus and rounds did cook off on the burning bus for some time.  Neither myself nor the Marines present, know why they drove into the Marines position that morning—they didn’t appear to make an effort to use their weapons.  Theories advanced amongst the Marines included the belief that they were coming back to retrieve something or loot the base, or just take a shortcut from one major road to another.  It almost appeared as if they didn’t know they were driving straight into a US military position. 

Finally, there was no Arabic interpreter on hand to get their side of the story and help clarify the situation. Either way, it would have been a complete breakdown in force-protection to let the bus breach the position any further than it already had. The fact that the two survivors were immediately cared for once the threat level dropped is significant.