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| Iraq |
| Beer Ban Lifted for U.S. Troops in Iraq for Super Bowl |
| 2009-01-09 |
| BAGHDAD -- American troops in Iraq will be allowed to drink beer without fear of court-martial for this year's Super Bowl -- an exception to a strict military ban on drinking alcohol in combat zones. In what is sure to be a major morale boost, the top U.S. commander in Iraq Gen. Raymond Odierno issued a waiver Wednesday paving the way for troops to participate in the popular American football tradition. Super Bowl XLIII will kick off on Feb. 1 in Tampa, Florida, but it will be 2 a.m. in Baghdad when the live broadcast starts in Iraq. Troops will gather in dining halls on military bases nationwide to watch the game. A copy of the waiver said the consumption of alcoholic beverages will be limited to Feb. 1-2 and service members can only have two, 12-ounce beers each. Odierno also appeared to acknowledge the sensitivity of drinking alcohol in an Islamic country, particularly considering the game falls during a holy period for Iraq's majority Shiite Muslims. The waiver orders commanders to "keep in mind all host nation laws and customs regarding alcohol consumption" and "to exercise discretion and good judgment in enforcing these guidelines and restrictions." U.S. troops have been banned from drinking, possessing or selling alcoholic beverages under a general order that also bans them from possessing pornography and other activities. They can face a reduction in pay or rank or even a court-martial if they violate the rule. The Washington Post reported that several service members said the only other time the ban was lifted was in 2005, for troops operating under the Baghdad command. Drinking alcohol isn't illegal in Iraq but is banned under Islam, and extremists have frequently targeted liquor stores. The exemption comes as the U.S. military faces stricter Iraqi oversight under a new security agreement that took effect on Jan. 1. |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #26 Just remember: Beer has food value. Food has no beer value. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2009-01-09 20:28 |
| #25 A Bavarian saying goes: The few things I eat I can also drink right away. |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2009-01-09 17:37 |
| #24 Sounds like those monks weren't as dumb as they looked, EC. :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-01-09 17:34 |
| #23 In Bavaria beer is classified as "staple food". The Pope allowed the monks to drink beer during fasting times. And that was STRONG dark beer. (OK the saying goes that in the early Middle Ages monks sent dark beer to Rome in order to get the ok. But during the long travel the beer turned and when the Pope tasted it he found it so horrible that he shook his head in disbelief and allowed consumption, believing it was special penitence.) |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2009-01-09 17:31 |
| #22 Exactly European Conservative, like I always tell the State Troopers: No Sir, just beer, beer isn't drinking! |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2009-01-09 17:07 |
| #21 Glenmore - The p0rn folks asked for a bailout... Soon no p0rn.. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2009-01-09 16:39 |
| #20 Beer is no alcohol |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2009-01-09 16:34 |
| #19 # 6 Not till June, per the SOFA, actually. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2009-01-09 15:52 |
| #18 i don't think the beer ration is the cause of the apparent inability of the Brits and Germans.... |
| Posted by: Abu do you love 2009-01-09 15:52 |
| #17 no beer in a combat zone? so i guess the little pleasure cruise i took in 1991 to the persian gulf on CV-61 wasn't really combat and the beer i drank in port wasn't illegal, even tho' our A-6's were being launched fulla Mk 82's and coming back empty? guess it was just an air-to-ground ordnance transfer???? ( see highway of death pics for burning vehicles, courtesy of the VA-155 Silver Foxes.... |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2009-01-09 15:34 |
| #16 British and German troops get a ration, and they aren't a mob of murdering rapists. No, they're just ineffective fighting forces. |
| Posted by: spiffo 2009-01-09 14:32 |
| #15 send in a fleet of tankers for the boys |
| Posted by: good on em 2009-01-09 13:26 |
| #14 Oh, you capitalist you! |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2009-01-09 13:21 |
| #13 May the troops fully enjoy a hearty Superbowl Monday! Not everyone drinks. I wonder what the barter rate for 1 beer ration is. |
| Posted by: Minister of funny walks 2009-01-09 13:02 |
| #12 "Sometimes I wonder why we're even bothering to free these people if they still can't have beer" You can buy beer "on the economy" if you really want one. Stores sell beer in Iraq and I would imagine that it won't be long before its designation as a "combat zone" will be changed soon. |
| Posted by: crosspatch 2009-01-09 12:47 |
| #11 No Beer + no wimin + really fucking bored soldiers = major fucking trouble |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2009-01-09 12:35 |
| #10 Beer + wimin + sojurs = trouble. Beer + no women + sojurs = even more trouble. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-01-09 12:23 |
| #9 Bad juju. Beer + wimin + sojurs = trouble. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-01-09 11:52 |
| #8 and there was much rejoicing.... |
| Posted by: Sir Robin of Camelot 2009-01-09 11:52 |
| #7 Our guys are just there to train and provide support. Train those Arabs to chill out and enjoy the occasional alcoholic beverage. It might be good for them. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2009-01-09 11:46 |
| #6 Easy way to handle this: now that we have the status of forces agreement with the Iraqi government, Iraq isn't a 'war zone' any more (yes, there's still some shooting and bombing but work with me here). Our guys are just there to train and provide support. Bring on the beer! |
| Posted by: Steve White 2009-01-09 11:41 |
| #5 British and German troops get a ration, and they aren't a mob of murdering rapists. Do you believe in teaching abstinence instead of sex-ed too? |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2009-01-09 11:41 |
| #4 From Strategy Page: Sex, Booze and Troop Control March 21, 2008: Since the 1990s, the U.S. Army has banned the use of alcohol in combat zones. One side effect is fewer alcohol related disciplinary problems. That means there are fewer cases of U.S. troops getting in trouble with local civilians. Far fewer brawls, murders and rapes. For example, last year, the U.S. Army had 2.6 cases of sexual assault per thousand troops. But in Iraq and Afghanistan, the rate was .86. There were even sharper drops in the number of assaults and murders. The use of alcohol has not been completely eliminated in the combat zone, but it has to be obtained (from locals, or stills run by troops) and consumed clandestinely. That alone greatly reduces the amount alcohol related misbehavior. For those of us who've had to deal with good order and discipline, I'll take three of the troops who'll do without and serve, than six troops of which two are a constant problem and take up an inordinate amount of time and attention from the job at hand and detract from working with and developing the good troops. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-01-09 11:31 |
| #3 Two beers? And they wonder why young guys don't want to join the military? No booze and no sex allowed, and top it all off with having to stand around and watch militants driving around with AK's and not being allowed to do anything about it. My brother did his time and tells me he's had enough, I don't blame him. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2009-01-09 11:21 |
| #2 They do, Glen. However, it is hidden or kept low-key. Besides, I don't think many of our troops are into goat pr0n. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2009-01-09 11:20 |
| #1 Sometimes I wonder why we're even bothering to free these people if they still can't have beer or pr0n. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-01-09 11:18 |