Article

2009-01-09 Iraq

Beer Ban Lifted for U.S. Troops in Iraq for Super Bowl

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Posted by Sherry 2009-01-09 11:11|| || Front Page|| [11130 views ] Top

#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">Glenmore 2009-01-09 11:18|| 2009-01-09 11:18|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 11:20|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 11:21|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 11:31|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 11:41|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 11:41|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 11:46|| Front Page Top

#8 and there was much rejoicing....

Posted by Sir Robin of Camelot 2009-01-09 11:52|| 2009-01-09 11:52|| Front Page Top

#9 Bad juju. Beer + wimin + sojurs = trouble.

Posted by Besoeker 2009-01-09 11:52|| 2009-01-09 11:52|| Front Page Top

#10 Beer + wimin + sojurs = trouble.

Beer + no women + sojurs = even more trouble.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2009-01-09 12:23|| 2009-01-09 12:23|| Front Page Top

#11 No Beer + no wimin + really fucking bored soldiers = major fucking trouble

Posted by DarthVader 2009-01-09 12:35|| 2009-01-09 12:35|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 12:47|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 13:02|| Front Page Top

#14 Oh, you capitalist you!

Posted by bigjim-ky 2009-01-09 13:21|| 2009-01-09 13:21|| Front Page Top

#15 send in a fleet of tankers for the boys

Posted by good on em 2009-01-09 13:26|| 2009-01-09 13:26|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 14:32|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 15:34|| Front Page Top

#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">Abu do you love 2009-01-09 15:52|| 2009-01-09 15:52|| Front Page Top

#19 # 6

Not till June, per the SOFA, actually.

Posted by liberalhawk 2009-01-09 15:52|| 2009-01-09 15:52|| Front Page Top

#20 Beer is no alcohol

Posted by European Conservative 2009-01-09 16:34|| 2009-01-09 16:34|| Front Page Top

#21 Glenmore - The p0rn folks asked for a bailout...
Soon no p0rn..

Posted by 3dc 2009-01-09 16:39|| 2009-01-09 16:39|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 17:07|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 17:31|| Front Page Top

#24 Sounds like those monks weren't as dumb as they looked, EC. :-D

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2009-01-09 17:34|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/] 2009-01-09 17:34|| Front Page Top

#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|| 2009-01-09 17:37|| Front Page Top

#26 Just remember:

Beer has food value.
Food has no beer value.

Posted by DarthVader 2009-01-09 20:28|| 2009-01-09 20:28|| Front Page Top

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