Insurgents learn to exploit U.S. military's vulnerabilities.

• Author: Tiron, Roxana
• Position: Up Front

As insurgents continue to develop more lethal means to attack U.S. forces and allies in Iraq, both military and private security officials have been conducting briefings on how to recognize and avoid the ubiquitous threats of suicide bombs, roadside mines and ambushes.

According to a briefing crafted by Blackwater USA, one of the largest private military firms, insurgents have effectively exploited the vulnerabilities of U.S. military truck convoys. In one example, a gun team initiates an ambush, bringing the convoy to a halt. Terrorists draw fire to their side of the road while a second team detonates a bomb, attacking the convoy from the rear.

This ambush takes advantage of a convoy commander's tendency to fix attention on the direction of incoming fire. In a variation of the scenario, one team fires at the convoy while a rocket-propelled grenade team waits under cover, before firing at the rear vehicle and slipping away.

Alleyway ambushes also are common. An insurgent scout warns a gunman of approaching vehicles. The gunman then fires at the passing vehicle before escaping into a waiting car. This shoot-and-scoot tactic has been used in both rural and urban areas.

Insurgents also have staged car accidents as a ruse to attack U.S. troops and support forces, noted Blackwater experts who put together the "terrorist modus operandi" briefing. In such cases, the targeted vehicle is forced to stop because of a staged accident. A crowd gathers, hemming in the target vehicle. On command, the crowd parts allowing gunmen to fire before escaping into a waiting vehicle. This tactic also has been used against security forces vehicles and personnel responding to the accident. The insurgents' use of the crowd limits the coalitions ability to return fire, because of concerns over civilian casualties.

Rolling ambushes also are a favored tactic of the Iraqi terrorists. Gunmen hidden in an overlooking vantage point initiate the ambush. Meanwhile, a blocking vehicle moves behind the convoy. Roadside gunmen then rake vehicles as they pass, while the blocking vehicle veers in front of the convoy to prevent escape.

Drive-by shootings and attacks from overpasses are common methods employed by the Iraqi insurgents. The terrorist follows a target vehicle, and then at an opportune moment overtakes it and fires at it while the hostile vehicle passes.

Over time, Iraqi insurgent forces have adopted a steadily more sophisticated mix of tactics, including manipulating...