US Troops In Iraq Get To Drink Beer For Super Bowl

BAGHDAD — 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, Gen. Raymond Odierno, issued a waiver Wednesday paving the way for troops to participate in the popular American football tradition.

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

A copy of the waiver said the consumption of alcoholic beverages will be allowed only Feb. 1-2 and service members will be limited to two 12-ounce beers each.

Odierno, who is from northern New Jersey and played tight end at the U.S. Military Academy, will be rooting for the New York Giants, said his spokesman, Col. James Hutton. The Giants play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday a second-round playoff match.

Odierno appeared to acknowledge the sensitivity of drinking alcohol in an Islamic country, particularly considering the Super Bowl 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 in Iraq 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.

The Washington Post reported that several service members said the only other time the ban was lifted was in 2005, for troops operating under the Baghdad command.

Drinking alcohol isn't illegal in Iraq but is banned under Islam, and Muslim 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.

Violence has declined dramatically over the past year, and the Americans are involved in less combat, focusing more on their training and advisory roles.

Comments

[FZliveson]

Yeah and Haliburton got a 2-year old lot of stale beer from a warehouse in
Nebraska and is selling it under a contract that equals $75.00 per bottle plus
$9.50 per bottle for transport and a $9.00 per bottle return for recycling fee.
Least wise that is what they do with food and potable water....why not beer too?

[amdan]

Unless you are not 21.

At 18 "we" think you are old enough to kill and die on behalf of "us". But we do not believe that you are old enough to have a drink.

What a joke.

[robXdion]

They gave us non-alcoholic beer (in Iraq) in years past. "Near Beer"

[areyoucrazy]

An american GI can go to a sovereign nation and kill and abuse innocent people and can't even buy a beer legally in their own country.

America is one sick, e v i l country

[motoGpifupleez]

Two whole beers, wow. This coming from the same military that amps its soldiers up on amphetamines to keep them going and then pumps them full of anti-depressants and anti-psychotics to try and dull the pain and strain of overextended tours.

[JoshD]

So, the Military hops everyone up on Amphetamines? Funny, I never was on Amphetamines when I was in Iraq. Anyways, two beers after not drinking for a while is plenty, trust me.

[hamchunk]

Same here JoshD- The military didn't "hop me up" on anything, though I did "hop" myself up on plenty of Red Bull, Rip Fuel and menthol cigarettes (a white guy with Newports, imagine that!).

[hamchunk]

And the worst part is, it is that 3.2 beer, which is almost as bad as non-alcohol beer (why bother?). Just buy some local hooch from Achmed if you need to get your drink on.

[Okay]

Two (2) beers!!! What a joke!!!.......unless a person can persuade a couple of non drinking buddies to help out.

[Fein]

Military beer commercial : When I'm not out there killin', I'm in front of the TV chillin' with my favorite brew!

(Pretty bad, sorry)

[jake106]

Pretty stupid and insulting, actually. Go eff yourself, jerk.

[SeanONe]

Yeah the murder spree should be in the ad, shooting up families for no reason. Then maybe showering off the blood and bits and then the beer moneyshot.