Two Florida National Guardsmen Probed on Iraqi Marriages

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031003/ap_on_re_us/iraq_marriages&cid=519&ncid=1473

PACE, Fla. - Two Florida National Guard soldiers who married Iraqi women against their commander's wishes are being investigated for allegedly defying an order, their families said.

The men, both Christians who converted to Islam so they could be married under Iraqi law, had expected to return to Florida this month, but a new Army policy that requires troops to remain in Iraq for 12 continuous months may keep them there until April.

In the meantime, Sgt. Sean Blackwell, 27, of Pace, and Cpl. Brett Dagen, 37, of Walnut Hill, want to send their wives to the United States because of threats from anti-American Iraqis.

Vickie McKee, Blackwell's mother, said Friday her daughter-in-law has asked that the women not be identified for that reason. Both women are physicians.

more...photo at link

[lolly]

1. Well, by all means punish them!

We can't have *anything* good or life-enforcing coming out of this little adventure, can we?

[rocktivity]

2. Does Gitmo bay have a bridal suite?

rocknation

[rfranklin]

3. For Christ's sake, they needed to get laid!

And there probably aint that many whorehouses in Iraq. And whores spread disease.

[kskiska]

4. This was covered on 60 Minutes II the other night

They interviewed one of the wives. She said the military hasn't allowed her husband to see her since the marriage, and maintain that they're not legally married.

[Maine-i-acs]

5. That's what you get for extending their tours.

These guys are going to get lonely. And befriend Iraqis (God forbid!). The article quotes his sergant-major saying Muslims and Christians just don't jive together.

I remember a few guys coming home from other US wars with Filipino, Korean and Vietnamese wives, including a neighbor of mine. They 'Jived" just fine.

Leave 'em the hell alone. And if you don't want the soldiers fraternizing with the locals - bring 'em all home.

[Kitsune]

6. When did the military gain the right to tell people

whom they can or cannot marry?

[NNN0LHI]

7. Why would there be an order against getting married to an Iraqi woman?

Something escapes me. I can't imagine the logic being applied here. Did the US military have the same kind of orders after WWII in Germany, Italy, and Japan? Anyone know? This seems rather odd. Tin foil hat theory here. Could it be the fact that these good Christian boys are converting to Islam is what their superiors really do not like? Just a guess here.

Don

[No Passaran]

10. They don't like Christians converting to Islam I guess

"Muslims and Christians just don't jive together." Uneducated CSM.

When I was over there, I know at least one officer (a captain) who converted to Islam. I think it's still a secret.

[smallprint]

11. That's what Chaplain Yee did

He's the one who was just arrested at Gitmo, supposed spy--

He converted to Islam while on duty in Gulf War I.

[Art_from_Ark]

12. I don't know about Germans and Italians, but there were quite a few

Japanese "war brides". I assume that GIs were also allowed to marry German and Italian women after the war.

[SWPAdem]

13. During WWII

our guys had to jump through hoops just to marry a WAC. It was twice as hard to marry one of the natives...but they did occur.

[mumon]

8. WTF?

They don't want gays in the military, and then when hetero American boys do the right thing and want get married, they pull this???

[0007]

9. Why should Iraq be any different

than Germany, Japan, Korea, Viet Nam or counties our troops occupied?

Is it Islam that the Christians are having a hard time with? I think so!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

14. The U. S. military had the same policy during the occupation of...

...Japan, but relaxed that policy when it involved occupied Germany.

[No Passaran]

15. CNN is reporting the same story now

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/10/03/iraq.marriages.ap/index.html

[Jack Rabbit]

16. A little background from a vet

Under Army regulations (and I assume regulations of the Navy and Air Force as well), a service member seeking to marry a foreign national while on an overseas assignment must get permission from his commanding officer.

When I was stationed in Korea, this permission was routinely granted. In fact, I know of no case where it was denied.

I married a Korean woman after my return from overseas. This was made necessary by the simple fact that the divorce from my first wife was not final when I left Korea. Once my divorce was final, I simply sponsored a fiancee visa for my girlfriend. She arrived in the states just as I separated from the service. We were married about a week later.

Doing it that way took a lot longer, saved me the indignaty of requesting permission from my commanding officer. After all, I was in my mid-twenties and already married once; I saw no reason to ask my parents for permission, let alone my commander.