How do you feel about this?

[hooah]

2 Iraqi Marriages Being Probed

Associated Press
October 4, 2003


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.

"She's being threatened over there on almost a daily basis," McKee said. "He just wants to know that she's safe."

McKee, who said the Army is trying to prevent the women from coming to the United States, has delivered letters from her son and his wife to the district office of U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller. Dan McFaul, a spokesman for Miller, said the congressman can do nothing until the women request visas.

Blackwell's wife, now working as an interpreter for an American firm in Baghdad, wrote that the Army has prevented him from contacting her since the double wedding on Aug. 17.

"Is this freedom in U.S.?" she wrote. "Where is the human right? Where is justice?"

McKee said the soldiers have been barred from using e-mail. For a time they also were prohibited from calling home, she said.

"It's an embarrassment to the Army," said Dagen's mother, Laverne Warren. Warren said her son also was not permitted to contact his Iraqi wife.

An Army spokesman at the Pentagon referred questions to officials in Iraq, who declined comment.

Lt. Col. Ron Tittle, spokesman for the Florida National Guard in St. Augustine, said he did not know whether disciplinary action had been taken or is contemplated, but that the soldiers' battalion commander, Lt. Col. Thad Hill, had said he was worried the marriages might distract his troops from their mission and compromise their safety.

In his letter to Miller, Blackwell said the Army Inspector General's office has told him he cannot be punished for getting married, but that he could be disciplined for disobeying an order.

Other soldiers, including his company commander, were supportive, but Hill and a sergeant major opposed the marriages, Blackwell wrote. He added that the sergeant major told him "Muslims and Christians just don't jive together."

An Iraqi judge married the couples while the soldiers were on a foot patrol, Blackwell wrote.


Sound Off.....Do you think these 2 women should be allowed to come to the U.S.?

[BLUEHAWK]

I'll probably get some incoming for this, but I think they oughta be able to come home and be with their new families... and their husbands also deserve some serious UCMJ activity for defying a direct order and for thinking with their "other brain" too much.

[Desdichado]

Without ever having met the women in question to know whether they're genuine or playing these guys for suckers I'd have to say....


NONE OF MY DAMN BUSINESS.
NONE OF THEIR CO'S DAMN BUSINESS.
NONE OF THE ARMY'S DAMN BUSINESS.
NONE OF ANYBODY'S DAMN BUSINESS.

Of course, that's just my initial reaction. :re:

[reeb]

Maybe on their return,

The Vet should be Court Martialed for diobeddience, and given an Honorable for serving His Country, but also the record has to carry with him the rest of his life as an Bad Conduct Discharge.

I know that is two, but what the heck, I married a Phillipina

and that didnt hurt.

As I always say, To each his/her own, and in my view, this applies here also.

Just out of curiosity, did the Army Family get their Separation from the Army cause they won the Lotto for 89 million take home.??

enough.....

[BLUEHAWK]

"This is my rifle.
This is my gun.
This is for fighting.
This is for fun."

Right?

[Tamaroa]

I have to agree with your post #2 on this thread. The deed has been done. assuming there really is love in this and its not a method to gain entry into the USA, they should allow the wives to come to the USA AND also be disciplined because I believe the CO gave an order that he felt was necessary for the protection of his men.

What about all the american GI's that fell in love with frauleins in Germany after WW2? Did they get this kind of grief as well? Or what about Japanes brides also from WW2?

Regards,

Bill

[BLUEHAWK]

Bill - yup, wherever GIs go, love seems to bloom, also, doesn't it... REAL problems start happening when families are kept separate, I believe it is correct to say that our guys still have some loved ones among the Vietnamese too.

Maybe one of our PF members will have been an Admin Officer, and can shed light on the legal issues, of which I am sure there are some real important ones from the military standpoint, not least of which might be taking a stripe or so... but kinda makes a nice romantic story for the couples to have over a lifetime, no?

[reeb]

Here is another thought:

They are going to come over here to the USA anyhow, just like the Vietnamese, Koreans and Japanese and buy up all tthe convient stores, motels etc, so why not make them Legal upon there entry?

enough......