BLACKFIVE: WTH Are THEY Smoking?

« Tranporting President Obama's Limo | Main | CIA Assassination program »

WTH Are THEY Smoking?

Posted By Mr Wolf

Yeah- you've probably read it recently- calls for a ban on smoking in the military. Telling all our joe's that he/she can't light up anywhere. The iconic joe lighting up on the battlefield would become a thing of the past...

If you weren't already aware, DoD banned smoking in all buildings (along with a general ban in US Gov't buildings) years ago. There are a few 'smoking rooms' in some buildings, but generally, smokers are banished like lepers to tents and smoking areas outside. Now, it seems that in addition to RP's and stuff, we'll have to get used to a new 'SP'- ''smoking point'' during patrols and movements.

Now, I'm NOT a smoker. Except for the odd 'victory cigar' or 'war cigar' I've never lit up in my life. My mom quit years ago, but I've never had a compunction to smoke. I've got relatives that seems to only be living because of the nicotine in their system keeps their hearts beating. But I'm no ban-smoking evangelist- nor would I foist this total ban on anyone. If you want to smoke, that's YOUR choice. Just like taking a drink. Its a legal substance, its been around for THOUSANDS of years, so what's the deal?

Over the years I've been amazed at the smokers in my units that have been able to pass (literally 'smoke') a PT test- had I been a betting man, I would have bet they'd collapse in a heaving heap inside of a 1/4 mile. But, run and run well they would. Somehow. Then light up minutes after completing it. Damn.

DoD's push for healthier soldiers seems to be being pushed from the OUTSIDE. Again, forcing soldiers to become the 'sheeple' of some larger social experiment that they'd like to foist on the general public. According to the report linked above, the REAL kicker is this passage:

"The committee recommends that DOD establish a timeline to eliminate all tobacco use on military
installations to protect the health of all military personnel, civilian employees, family members, and visitors."

Read that a couple of times. Do you see a few problems with this? ''family members and visitors''. That is, those NOT EVEN IN THE MILITARY. Yah wohl, mein fuhrer! We will become a compliant society!

I agree smoking is BAD for you. So is driving. Rock climbing can kill you easily. I hear parachuting may induce a sudden death at the bottom. But all of these are CHOICES. Some worse than others. But to FORCE a soldier/sailor/airman/Marine to not smoke anywhere, anytime, is so completely ludicrous as to really invite parody.

To me, this is more about civilian control and forcing people OUT OF the military than anything else. To make joining so completely un-attractive that no one will want to enlist.

Reports cite that up to 50% of those in theater (Iraq or Afghanistan) light up after being there. I don't think its quite that high. While I lit a cigar more over there than I do here, the opportunity presented itself far more readily. One of my fave ways to relax was to light and smoke like a HALF of a stogie on the roof of my hooch- overlooking Baghdad and the 2 major hotels across the river. At night, I could listen to the sounds of Baghdad- and watch what was going on in various neighborhoods. I could see, after a while, Iraqi's beginning to gather across the river, on their famous river walk, and to try to establish normalcy. I could watch (for a bit) celebratory fire arcing into the sky after events like the soccer team wins in the Olympics. This was but one of the few times I could a attempt to 'relax' after 2 or 3 days without much rest, or before I'd have to go back out again.

GENERAL ORDER NUMBER ONE, which can be read in its entirety here, is quite long and explicit. It also only covers those in theater. Proponents of the ban would like to extend, in theater, as well as stateside. It would be VERY difficult to enforce across the US, in my opinion, especially as far as non-military people would be affected.

Likelyhood of this passing? Pretty slim, but damn if they won't try. See, if they DO get this pushed thru, soldier won't able to drink, smoke, have sex (unless they're gay- there is nothing in GO-1 prohibiting it) vote (just ask those in NY), or anything else.

What does that make the US Soldier at this point?

A Muslim....

Mr Wolf