Soldier Who Married Iraqi To Be Discharged

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- An American soldier has been reprimanded and will be discharged for taking a break from a foot patrol in Baghdad to marry an Iraqi woman, his lawyer said Monday.

Sgt. Sean Blackwell, 27, is being punished for divulging the time and location of the patrol to his bride and the Iraqi judge who married them, his attorney said. The Florida National Guardsman avoided a possible court-martial for dereliction of duty and disobeying orders.

Blackwell received a written reprimand in advance of the discharge, attorney Richard Alvoid said.

"The more they punish him, the more negative publicity the military likely will receive," he said. "He is guilty of falling in love."

Florida Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Ron Tittle said he had no word on disciplinary action against Blackwell or a second Florida guardsman, Cpl. Brett Dagen, 37, who married another Iraqi woman in a double ceremony during a break on the same patrol Aug. 17. Both women are physicians.

The soldiers, attached to the 1st Armored Division, have been in Iraq since April. Both were Christians who converted to Islam before they married.

A division spokesman in Baghdad, Capt. Jason Beck, had no immediate comment on the soldiers' status. Blackwell's mother, Vickie McKee, said her son has told her he could be discharged and sent home by Christmas.

The Army has not permitted Blackwell to see his bride since the wedding but recently allowed them to resume contact by telephone, McKee said.

"He's a little ticked off at the government right now," she said. "I'd hate for him to get a dishonorable discharge because he fell in love."

McKee said her son told her Dagen and his bride are divorcing under pressure from the wife's parents. Gwen Tutton, Dagen's cousin, said he has told family members to stop speaking to the media.

Alvoid said Blackwell's bride, Ehdaa, has received anti-American threats and may leave the country by Christmas to go to western Europe, where the couple could be reunited. It would take much longer to get her into the United States, he said.

Alvoid said he soon expects to complete a book deal for Blackwell and his wife, and that a movie may follow.

This poor sucker got it from every direction, including his wife, his employer, and both sets of familiy.

One can't help but have a certain amount of sympathy for him, but after all, he was in direct violation of orders not to collaberate with civilians while on duty.

There's a little different twist on this one too. .

Our soldiers married hundreds of thousands of foreign brides during past wars, were able to take them home after fighting subsided, and were not given disciplinary actions.

And another big difference is the brides in those past wars generally did not face stoning and public humiliation for "sleeping with an infidel."

Actually, he didn't do the girl a favor by marrying her, and most definitely messed up a good portion of his young life.

And then there is the negative precedent this sets for other soldiers in theatre.

I was in Saudi during Desert Storm and the only faces of Muslim women we saw were from other parts of the middle east other than Saudi.

We used to go down to the beach at Dharan (east cost) and the women would be walking in the surf fully dressed from head to toe, head covered and all. The few faces we saw were mostly Egyptian women visiting. Most had very nice features.

But I can tell you, nobody I knew had even one inkling of a desire to even go within fifty feet of any of them.

In fact, if you were an "infidel" male walking on the street or sidewalk of any Saudi town, the men would literally push their women (they have multiple wives) up to and facing the wall of the closest building until you were a safe distance away from them, usually thirty feet or so.

It's an insane circus world over there where women are considered property and not people - they literally have no rights.

Iraq though is largely a secular Muslim society where women live with their faces, arms, and at least ankles uncovred in public.

I guess that was enough to make this soldier go for broke.

Oh well - war is hell.

Also here, GrandmaPatriot.

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