Fla. Guardsmen Probed on Iraqi Marriages; Christians who converted to Islam so they could be married

Associated Press ^ | 10-03-03

[Blood of Tyrants]

I'd refuse to ask for permission from anyone.

And your @$$ would be in a very large sling for a very long time. You haven't ever been in the military, have you? Once in the military you waive certain rights (for example you may NEVER sue the military for ANYTHING) and agree to follow all lawful orders given. It is a different life and culture. You don't just make decisions and say "The hell with it" without serious repercussions.

[TopQuark]

"Is this freedom in U.S.?" she wrote. There is no freedom in the army. Her husband should've explained that to her before she started to make these noises.

"Where is the human right? Where is justice?"

Why were these soldiers so easily giving up their heritage? What would've been wrong if the women converted to Christianity?

[Blood of Tyrants]

Thinking with the little head, not the big one.

[mickie]

These men were on "foot patrol" at the time of their marriage?
Then they were on duty........went behind the backs of their superiors.
That's enough to raise a ruckus!

[sport]

"Christians" meaning people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior do not convert.

People who not practice Buddism, Musilms, Hinduism, Judism,or any other religion meaning that if thay got to be something so they might as well claim to be "Christian" are who convert.

One can claim to be a"Christian" and still not be a follower of Christ.

[anguish]

You haven't ever been in the military, have you?

I'm a second lieutenant (reserve), but in the Swedish army. Hence my original question - I don't know everything about the codes and regulations that American servicemen have to abide to. My personal reflection, however, is that asking for permission from the government/military/whatever to marry someone isn't something I would do. In other words, if there were such regulations for me, I'd disregard them and take the consequences. It's not compatible with my "belief system", but I wouldn't look down on someone who thought it was right.

[Thunder 6]

Yep, soldiers have to have permission from their commander to marry a foreign national. For the reason you mentioned (among others). These soldiers could be punished under the UCMJ for their actions.
regards,

[xzins]

Our experience with american soldiers has always been the same. If you put them in the desert with no one around for miles, some of them will find and bed women.

But marrying physicians is its own tipoff.

Is cash changing hands for a green card?

[cyborg]

I wonder what would have happened if they just SLEPT with them. I do not think militaries really care about 'decorum' as we've seen with how American GIs filled Vietnam to overflowing with illegitimate babies. Also, not just American GIs but there are plenty of stories from WW2. If it were me and in charge of basic training, there really should be a stronger emphasis on morality.

[SauronOfMordor]

My personal reflection, however, is that asking for permission from the government/military/whatever to marry someone isn't something I would do. In other words, if there were such regulations for me, I'd disregard them and take the consequences.

The military is not civilian life. In civilian life you can quit your job at any time, even walking away in the middle of dealing with a customer. In the US military, that would be called "desertion", a crime for which you can go to jail or even be executed (depending on circumstances)

[Conservative til I die]

My grandmother is a war-bride. My late grandfather was a drill instructor stationed in Germany during and after WW2. They married and had four children before moving back home to the US.

[Conservative til I die]

I would think that the one government "program" that conservatives wouldn't be against was pay and pension for the military and their spouses and families.

[Conservative til I die]

I'm guessing the fear that their new spouses would be murdered in some sort of honor killing.

[mark502inf]

There is no prohibition or "asking permission" to get married for most in the military. The real issue is the prevention of fraternization--close personal relationships that can compromise the ability of a soldier or unit to accomplish the mission. The normal prohibition is against fraternization with the local citizens in an area where members of that population might use a close relationship to gain information of tactical value, divert them from accomplishing their mission or undertake unlawful acts such as blackmarketing.

In places like Iraq and Afghanistan, all those things can happen and, according to the news story, apparently happened in this case--soldiers who are supposed to be on a patrol--probably on a designated route to accomplish a specific purpose--are stopping by to visit their Baghdad babe instead. What was going on in the area he was supposed to be patrolling? So he needs to be hammered.

She is kind of cute, though. And I'm in the USA--for guys who've been looking at each other in the desert for a few months, she must have looked like a huge improvement over PFC Jones in 3d Squad or Abdul's camel out behind the barracks. I'm just speaking for the Army, however. The sailors and marines have long ago come to terms with handling this in a different way on those long sea voyages together.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Surely even the Swedish Army has concerns about security and people being given secret and top secret clearences. As a second lieutenant, you are still young and may not be familiar with all the rules and be impulsive and haven't learned the wisdom that others may have. However, your insistance that you would not seek the permission of the Army to marry a foreign national would indicate to me that you are a security risk.

Also, while the Swedish military may be good, practically EVERYBODY would like to see the U.S. knocked off the hilltop that we occupy alone, so we have to be MUCH more careful than other countries. And I can tell you, you won't like who replaces us.