Danger Paves Road to Baghdad for Jordanian Truckers

[Barrett808]

Danger Paves Road to Baghdad for Jordanian Truckers
By ALEX BERENSON
August 9, 2004

AMMAN, Jordan, Aug. 4 - In May, Adnan Husni Radwan traveled to Iraq from Jordan to deliver a truckload of vegetables to the American military at Abu Ghraib prison.

He never made it home.

A few minutes after he unloaded and drove away from the prison, Mr. Radwan was shot in the head and left to die in his truck. His attackers escaped.

...

Thousands of drivers are out of work, according to the Jordanian Truckers Association, which has recommended that its members keep off the highway until it is safer. Although Iraqi drivers continue to run the route, the cost of transporting loads for the military and American contractors has soared, and some cargo has been delayed. If drivers can be found at all, the cost of bringing in a trailer for the American military is now at least $2,500, compared with less than $700 for shipments to local companies.

"Anyone who is carrying things for the American Army is a big target to be killed," said Abdul-Majid al-Habashneh, leader of the truckers' association, which represents about 11,000 drivers. "Our biggest mistake was when we accepted work with the Americans and we got targeted."

(more)

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/09/international/middleeast/09jordan.html