European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 03, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Focus commercial and passenger cars bound for Northern Kuwait till the Highway once clogged with iraqi soldiers fleeing the allies during the persian Gulf War. S h High Way of death has returned to life Turkey 100km ap/s4s by Dave Melancon staff writer wait s once famous Highway of death has become just another North bound Road leading out of the capital City. % the Roadway where part of the retreating iraqi army was trapped and virtually destroyed by coalition air attacks is now filled with trucks and passenger vehicles going about daily business. Equipment weapons and ammunition strewn beside the Roadway out of Kuwait City As much As a year after the end of operation desert storm in february 1991 have finally been cleared. But soldiers training in operation intrinsic action 93 near at Jathra reported seeing debris still scattered in the surrounding desert. During the persian Gulf conflict the Highway was mined. The surface has been completely cleared but nearby signs Mark continuing mine Clearing operations by the bangladeshi army. _ today camels and sheep Graze beside the Roadway. Graffiti paying tribute to units and girlfriends is starting to fade. Some buildings shattered by airstrikes and artillery have been demolished. Others have been repaired but stand empty resembling a Hollywood ghost town set Road signs used by iraqi gunners for target practice have been replaced. A picture of a kuwaiti Soldier now politely thanks travellers in arabic and English for stopping at a checkpoint there Are still armed soldiers checking travellers papers but it does not take As Long to get through As a year rusting hulls of tanks trucks and tracked vehicles destroyed by Allied aircraft in the desert serve As stripping Yards for bedouins City residents and soldiers looking for spare parts for soviet made equipment. Parking lots filled with tanks armoured personnel to carriers howitzers and anti aircraft guns can be found just outside of the is one Grid Square 1,000 Square meters or More than half a Square mile filled with tanks said it. Col. Michiael Wilson commander of the 82nd engr in it is amazing the. Sheer amount of equipment still _ one pile about 10 minutes away from the . Army Central come training and Security Kuwait Garrison at Camp Doha has been nicknamed the petting zoo by permanent party and visiting soldiers. The zoo is a favorite picture taking Point training in Kuwait. Uniforms spent ammunition and personal and military papers Are scattered inside the Bullet Ridden vehicle wreckage. Supply support and combat units can still be identified by vehicle markings and students of warfare can study the effects of 20 and 30 my Catling gun rounds. I m not sure it is every going get Back to the Way it was before the War Wilson said. The scars will remain it is interesting looking at the devastation and you realize How Long it takes to clean up and during their almost daily escorts Between Camp Doha and the 6th brigade Camp military police from the 3rd platoon 3rd my co saw a lot of the Highway said staff sgt. Joseph French. Comparing the present Day Roadway to television images from the Gulf War French said much Progress was made Clearing the destroyed vehicles and other debris but a lot of Road work remains to be done 24 thi9taisandstriks a in Doy november 3. W3
