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US Troop's To Drink Beer During Super Bowl XLIII

Popular American Football Tradition Extended To Baghdad

January 9, 2009       2 Comments
By: MyBayCity Staff

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Troops To View Super Bowl XLIII With A Cold Brew!
 

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 kick off on Feb. 1 in Tampa, Florida, 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 limited to Feb. 1-2 and service members can only have two, 12-ounce beers each.

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.

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 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 on 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.



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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

Fighter says:       On January 15, 2009 at 04:45 PM
If anyone deserves a cold one, it's these fine people fighting for our country. I think this is great, thanks for sharing.
genocummings Says:       On January 16, 2009 at 09:22 AM
Hey I am a veteran myself and I learn to drink in the Marines and it seems to me that when these guys and gals are not out there on the lines that is all they really do is sit and drink then you people wonder why we have so many veterans who come back home with the problems they do and seek help I think it must stop sometime or another. I was stationed on a base that had a beer dispencer right in our housing unit and even then if you want booze bad enough all you had to do was go to the PX and there you could get anything you wanted and yes all you do is lay your money down and walk right out the door. So Stop the Drinking and you'll stop the Drunk drivers on the roads and all the Drunk messed up Veterans too. Thanks for letting me share.
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