Letters to the Editor for Saturday, June 4, 2005

European and Mideast editions

(EDITOR’S NOTE: These are the letters that appeared in each edition of Stripes on this publication date. Click here to jump ahead to the Pacific edition letters)

Result of Quran flushings

What is with the flap over these Quran flushings that has brought out the zealots who drag with them all of their fervor, causing death throughout the Middle East? Why are they so easily whipped into frenzy over something like that?

In only the last 20 years, there have been so many instances of mass Bible burnings and persecution of Christians throughout the so-called tolerant lands of Islam that they have become too numerous to count.

Most Muslims, according to literacy statistics for the region, can’t even read or understand the classical Arabic in which the Quran is written and rely on the often-faulty or agenda-driven translation of the local cleric. My guess is they spend an inordinate amount of time looking for an excuse to accuse the Great Satan on the world’s media stage. I am sick to death of it.

They are able to travel to predominantly Christian countries such as France, Germany and the United States and practice Islam in any way they see fit. Try taking a Bible into Saudi Arabia. You can’t; I suppose some Muslim fanatic might try to burn or flush it.

Has it occurred to anyone that flushing the Quran, if they did, indeed, do that, might have been a technique that yielded excellent intelligence findings about terrorist organizations?

Judging from the current worldwide fanatical Muslim reaction to the alleged flushing, those boys at Guantanamo Bay might just be on to something. Keep up the good work, boys. I am sick to death of the worldwide Muslim double standard. Where is their outrage at their own religious intolerance, or, for that matter, where is ours?

Let’s not even ask why there hasn’t been any outcry from the same Muslim clerics and faithful concerning the beheadings of “infidels” and the daily wanton killings of Iraqi “apostates.” Give it a rest.

Mark Nichols
Camp Buehring, Kuwait

Awards given based on rank

Today’s Army has the most backward award policy ever. Awards are not given for exceptional actions, they are simply handed out based on rank or military occupational specialties.

The greatest example of this can be seen in Iraq. When my unit was returning from Iraq, everyone in the battalion, E-6 or below, received an Army Commendation Medal, regardless of his or her accomplishments or positions held. Everyone E-7 and above received a Bronze Star Medal, once again just for being that rank.

There are soldiers in the Army on a daily basis who get awards denied based on rank alone. I remember reading about a soldier who received an ARCOM for assaulting the enemy after being shot himself, which in turn saved lives. An ARCOM — my command sergeant major received two Bronze Stars and he never left the compound.

Another prime example of blanket awards is with the Combat Infantryman Badge. I am not an infantry soldier, but if I were, my CIB would have been tainted by the fact that soldiers who worked in the brigade tactical operations center received the same patch. These are soldiers who, again, never left the compound other than to fly home.

No one should have received an award for just completing a 15-month tour in Iraq. Yes, this is a hard task and is very stressful, but let’s all be honest, it’s our job. Awards have lost all of their meaning in today’s “Army of One” because they are something we get for our rank, not based on how deserving we are.

Army Sgt. James A Callihan
Baumholder, Germany

Reason for different standards

I just finished reading “Female GIs: Trust us to decide our role in Army,” (article, May 25, Mideast edition), and I was shocked at this female’s blatant disregard for the obvious.

If all females can perform up to par with their male contemporaries, then why does the Army recognize that they need a sub-male standard on their physical training evaluation?

I am not saying that there are not a few out there who could do it, but the standard is different for a reason. I have read of fire departments lowering the weightlifting standards to meet requirements for female hires. Is the Army going this route? Will I be bleeding on the front and have to rely on someone who can’t lift as much as a male buddy to carry me to safety?

The Army rates an 18-21 female’s max score to be equivalent to a male 62-plus years old. That tells me that the average female in her 20s is not as physically fit as a male in his 60s.

As long as we are lowering standards, why don’t we allow combat military occupational specialty soldiers who fail the male standards but pass the female’s move to a more female-compliant MOS.

Females need to realize there are differences between men and women and acknowledge the military feels the same way and creates standards to keep that obvious. Continue to help in support roles, but a female on the front is a bad idea in my mind.

Spc. Isaac Ross
Forward Operating Base Courage, Iraq