[Vision2020] Drink Up

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the January 26, 2009 issue of the Army Times.

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Drink up 
Super Bowl beer OK’d for troops in Iraq
 
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, Army Gen. Ray Odierno, issued a waiver Jan. 7 paving the way for 
troops to participate in the popular American football tradition.

Super Bowl XLIII will kick off Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla., but it will be 2 
a.m. in Baghdad when the live broadcast starts. Troops will gather in 
dining halls on military bases to watch the game.

A copy of the waiver said the consumption of alco­holic beverages will be 
limited to Feb. 1-2; each ser­vice member can have two 12-ounce beers.

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.

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 Jan. 1.

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I posted this article to reveal an extremely minor implication of what 
lies ahead for our troops who, as of January 1st, are under stringent 
oversight of the Iraqi government provided by a status of forces agreement 
between the Iraqi and US governments.

Thanks, George!
  
Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho



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