In the city of Baghdad, the capital of the Middle Eastern nation of Iraq, a nation occupied by the US Military, the International Airport is 12 kilometers away from the safe area, called the Green Zone. Baghdad has an international zone in the center of the city, around the Republican Palace on a bend in the Tigris River. This area is the heavily fortified headquarters of the International Coalition and Iraq Reconstruction Ministries. It started out as the “Green Zone” but was later changed to the “International Zone” in June 2004 with the return of sovereignty to the Iraqi people. However, the inhabitants, armed forces and the media have once again called it the Green Zone.
Only one highway connects the fortified Airport and the besieged Green Zone, making it the most accessible and vulnerable target for terrorists. That road is called Baghdad’s Route Irish, and it is the most dangerous road in the world. Many in the media incorrectly associate the name ‘Route Irish’ with the 69th New York National Guard Regiment, which is descended from an American Civil War unit made up predominantly of Irish immigrants. Bagdad’s Route Irish is actually named after the University of Notre Dame football team, called the Fighting Irish. This follows the tradition of naming Main Supply Routes (MSR) and Alternative Supply Routes (ASR) after sporting steamers. For example, there are other routes such as the Route of the Giants, the Route of the Senators and the Route of the Red Wings.
There have been many dangerous attacks on the Irish route from Baghdad, with casualties on both sides of the dividing line. Given the restrictive nature of the Baghdad route, through 12 kilometers of densely built-up city and the fact that it is the main route used by businessmen, military leaders, politicians, supplies and other high-value targets, terrorists often attack to convoys and travelers. To defend against this, most of the convoys traveling the Irish route from Baghdad hire private security firms such as Backwater (US), ArmorGroup (UK) and Erinys Iraq Limited (Iraq).
On the Irish route to Baghdad, these men, all ex-military or highly trained security professionals, are the only thing standing between the terrorists and their prey. They use a variety of modern security technology, ranging from small arms to assault rifles and grenades, to heavily armored vehicles with powerful engines and bulletproof glass, and personal armor such as bulletproof vests. The drivers of the vehicles constantly train in coordinated defensive driving, using two or more vehicles in defensive formation to keep danger at bay for as long as possible. The men and women who defend the defenseless on the Baghdad Irish Route risk their lives on every journey.
As often as possible, multiple companies will attempt to form multi-vehicle convoys for added protection, coordinating by radio and hand signals as they drive. Sometimes civilian contractors and businessmen will travel with military convoys for added protection, but there is no safe defense along the Baghdad Irish Route.