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Iraq
Love Blooms in Baghdad
2003-08-30
EFL Edited for Love
By LARRY KAPLOW
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the 20 weeks since the fall of Baghdad, two U.S. soldiers and two Iraqi women won each other’s hearts.
Next comes the minds...
The American men and Iraqi women courted, fell in love and decided to marry, but they had to battle disapproving senior American officers and fears of retribution by militant Iraqis. When they finally held their double wedding ceremony Aug. 17, the nuptials were carried out with the secrecy and synchronization of a commando operation. The two brides — one in a print dress, the other in slacks — and a few family members came to a city street corner at mid-morning. From there, an Iraqi intermediary led them to the route of their fiancés’ foot patrol. The grooms, carrying M-16 rifles, marched up in their Army uniforms, complete with bulletproof vests. A nervous Iraqi judge arrived, and the group ducked into the grassy courtyard of a dilapidated restaurant, where the vows were exchanged.
They were on Patrol! WTF?
The couples met after the Iraqi women, both English-speaking, took jobs with the Americans who have been trying to pacify the war-torn nation since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. No one minded that the Iraqi women and U.S. soldiers flirted with each other. But as the friendships deepened into romance, U.S. officers decided the relationships posed a security problem and prohibited the men from "fraternization" during "combat."
Or Patrol. No flirting during Patrol. Got it?
In spite of the prohibition, the soldiers — National Guardsmen from the Florida Panhandle — converted to Islam in an Iraqi court a couple of weeks before the ceremony.
Shi’ite or Sunni?
The weddings-on-patrol were necessary because the soldiers’ superior officers were trying to block them. "We are accomplishing a mission on the street and protecting our forces," Capt. Jack McClellan, a spokesman for the Florida Army National Guard, said. "We cannot develop relationships with the locals unless they are missionary position mission-related. If it’s true love, in a few months . . . they can pursue it. They are not allowed to see them."
To me, that makes sense. They're not there to get next to the girlies...
Yet Sgt. Sean Blackwell, 27, and Cpl. Brett Dagen, 37, were determined. "I’ve done two years overseas on active duty, and I never thought this would happen," Blackwell said. "I love her."
Obviously he never deployed to the Phillippines or Korea.
When I was in Thailand, I used to fall in love several times a week...
Now, he is trying to figure out how to bring his wife — they are married under Iraqi, but not yet under American, law — to the Pensacola area, where the couple plans to hold a larger wedding with friends and family.
Sounds like a job for... Embasssy Man!
As the romances blossomed, one superior officer began to oppose the liaisons. Another — lower in command — took an opposite tack and wrote a letter on Blackwell’s behalf to the U.S. Consulate, asking for assistance with a visa for the couple.
The more junior officer took care of his men.
And the more senior officer was looking out for his mission...
Opposition to the romances also came from Iraqis. Blackwell’s wife and her friend said they resent the common suspicion that they are seeking soldier-husbands as tickets to America. They said they do not need American husbands to flee Iraq because they already have relatives and friends in Canada, Ireland and Australia. They said they also were disappointed that some Iraqis accused them of betraying their country. "You are marrying the occupation," Blackwell’s wife recalled being told.
But hey, can we go with you?
Circumventing the military’s orders forbidding the soldiers to go to court, the two doctors persuaded an Iraqi judge to perform the ceremony along a patrol route.
Oh, they're physicians? Since when do physicians go on patrol? Since when are physicians sergeants? Or is the Journal-Constipation merely guilty of a typo?
The soldiers now are appealing to U.S. officials in and out of the military to begin the visa process for their wives. It’s unclear whether their superiors know the weddings took place or how they might react. "We are in combat operations," spokesman McClellan said. "If they get married, how can we safeguard those women? How can [a soldier] focus on his job if his wife or fiancée is out there?"
Y'know, that might be why they don't let you take your wife or girlfriend to a combat zone. I could be wrong...
Blackwell is trying to gather information on the visa process and said he’s not worried about telling the world about his marriage.
I’m no expert, but I see several UCMJ violations. To me, what will really matter is what the other guys in the platoon think. I would be pissed if I had to draw some other guys patrols because he got married.

And regardless of violations, the ladies should get head of the line priviledges for visas etc. since they are the spouses of military personnel.

Questions:
1) What kind of bachelor parties do Muslims throw?
2) Did they fire their M-16s in the air after they were married?
3) Does kevlar armor limit a guy’s ability to consumate his marriage?
4) What did they get for a wedding present? A goat?
Posted by:Penguin

#10  They had to convert. That gave them a certificate of religious purity.
Posted by: Fred   2003-8-30 2:29:28 PM  

#9  A nervous...judge."

__________________Flashback to the also described as nervous judicial official who married Adolf and Eva...at least the Iraqi judge didn't demand papers proving racial purity... :)) Or then again, maybe he did inquire about any latent Zionist or Z.O.G. affiliations?
Posted by: borgboy   2003-8-30 12:46:12 PM  

#8  I can't see the military telling GIs that can't get married. Love is VERY forceful and you can't regulate it. These guys seem to want to do the right thing by these women and that should be the main concern. The Commander may rant and rave but he will do little to affect these GIs (wouldn't be good PR).
Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter)   2003-8-30 12:42:48 PM  

#7  Stevey: If I need "relationship advice", you'd be the last guy I'd talk to. Have another doughnut...
Posted by: tu3031   2003-8-30 10:23:25 AM  

#6  Note that they had to convert to Islam. I sure hope this is purely pro forma. (At least circumcision won't be a problem).
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2003-8-30 10:19:02 AM  

#5  Proof of the "insufficient blood supply" hypothesis.
Posted by: .com   2003-8-30 8:48:59 AM  

#4  A nervous Iraqi judge
Yeah, I bet he was.

Opposition to the romances also came from Iraqis
Yeah, I bet it did.

"You are marrying the occupation,"
"...but just remember us at Christmas & Ramadan, OK?" "...and no gifts, only money." "...and only US dollars or Euros, no dinars please!"
Posted by: Raphael   2003-8-30 8:03:57 AM  

#3  Ah Stevee,marriage is an extreme situation.
"You will be assimalated"
Posted by: raptor   2003-8-30 7:28:07 AM  

#2  relationships started in extreme situations never last at all.
Posted by: steveerossa   2003-8-30 6:06:46 AM  

#1  Answers:
1) They're married now, hence no bachelor parties.
2) Why fire M-16's when you've got tank rounds?
3) The Army's issuing kevlar condoms now???
4) Each couple got a goat, some mint tea, and one of Saddam's lesser palaces...
Posted by: seafarious   2003-8-30 1:55:15 AM  

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