Suport our troops!!!

[Fryk]

I wouldn't send them movies anyway. I figure anyone could. I'd check via e-mail and see what shows they wanted (like you with Jericho) and send them something like that.

[Boozy]

Alcohol and porn are banned in many Islamic countries, including Iraq.

Alcohol isn't banned in Iraq. There's not a drop to be found in areas controlled by imams, but it's not a national law. The current (official) government is relatively secular.

But, my husband points out to me that alcohol is always contraband in combat zones, for rather obvious reasons. Guns + Booze = Bad Idea. So I can accept that.

I'm still annoyed by the idea that the troops can't look at porno magazines. I realize that the US military is trying to be sensitive to Iraqi Muslims, but in the greater scheme of things, it's not really going to help.

[Hobbs]

Boozy, it's also a matter of being respective of our Sisters in Arms. Let me give you an example our JAG man gave us:

You have a photo in the office of your summer vacation. In one picture, your wife is wearing a bikini. A female coworker (either AF or government employee) sees the picture and finds it offensive, for whatever reason. It's lawful for your supervisor to make you hide the picture or take it home.

Now, in the following scenario, does this happen alot? No. But once a claim of being uncomfortable from a photograph is given, it brings in a whole slew of unwanted ju-ju. And if guys are passing around pornos that their female coutnerparts get offended by, they're contributing, "...to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces..."

[Boozy]

Sure, but there's a difference between looking at porn when you're spending time by yourself in the barracks, and tucking the magazine away in your footlocker afterwards, and displaying it openly in your office.

Civilians can't bring porno to work either, but what they do in the privacy of their own homes is their own business.

Do soldiers seriously get no privacy and no rights to private property?

[Hobbs]

Sure, but there's a difference between looking at porn when you're spending time by yourself in the barracks, and tucking the magazine away in your footlocker afterwards, and displaying it openly in your office.

Civilians can't bring porno to work either, but what they do in the privacy of their own homes is their own business.

Do soldiers seriously get no privacy and no rights to private property?

Not when they're on government time, Boozy. You're legally are property of the US government. We're told where to deploy, what to do, when to sleep, etc.

When you're deployed, you're on government time 24/7. The tent you live in? Property of the US government. The cot you sleep on, the footlocker...all of these are property of the US government. It is not your private property.

[RavenStarr]

Speaking as a former soldier Hobbs is 100% spot on. Even when you are off duty, you are still expected to conduct yourself in an acceptable manner.