Is anything wrong with the marriages in Iraq? Would it make any difference if a female soldier were to marry an Iraqi man? Of course history shows us what happens when US GI's are stationed in other countries. They have always faced resistance when taking wives from countries like Japan and the Philippines in the past but as far as I know it was never forbidden, just frowned upon.

US military objections:


Iraqi's also not thrilled:


What do you all think? Is this a good, bad, or just inevitable thing that's going to happen no matter what?

For me it rates as a "so what".

Or, in the choices you laid out, it's just an "inevitable thing that's going to happen no matter what".

As far as military matters are concerned, I think that as long as these relationships are being formed while the soldiers in question are off duty, and as long as they are subject to normal security parameters (i.e. soldiers do not discuss sensitive operational matters with their spouse, as they would be expected not to do were they marrying a cheerleader from Iowa), then the most worrying thing is the air of disapproval. It seems miscegenation still hasn't lost it's stigma in the US military.

Iraqi disappproval is no less unworthy, I hasten to add.

Otherwise, it's only to be expected. All that youth and energy in one place is going to lead to romances with whoever happens to be nearby. If they were still stationed in, say, Iowa, it would be the locals there. How many English wives came back to the USA from WWII? How many Vietnamese from Vietnam? The increased presence of women in the modern military makes things more interesting, to the extent that I wonder how many American women will settle in Iraq (probably not many, I guess).

I think the concern is over possible terrorists using personal relationships to strike US troops. I think it is a stretch, but a real possibility.

As long as US troops follow protocols regarding guard duty, proper defensive measures, etc. then there should be no problem.

I COULD envision a scenario where an amorous serviceman "sneaks" someone onto the base that is laden with explosives...Far fetched, I know, but entirely possible given the climate of the area.

The soldiers need to take adequate precautions.

I married a Russian woman 4 years ago. Nearly cost my brother his super-secret clearance. I had to go to one interview myself, my wife had to name all her relatives, and then prove they were not ever in the communist party in Russia (both my wife and mother in law refused to join). I can imagine this has effectively ruined thier careers as well. When I go back in a couple of months from now, I am sure my security status will be downgraded. I wonder if they send me to Iraq if they will re-upgrade it because I know a couple languages> Hmmmm

I don't have a problem with it as long as they remember thier duty.

Any thoughts on the religous aspects? Could that be a bigger hurdle for these couples than the ones who are stationed else where?

I'm surprised that the DoD didn't enact an ordinance concerning fraternization between soldiers and civilians as they did in Germany and Japan after WWII.

I can also certainly see the point Amlord brings up. This could still be considered a security risk, as long as attacks are continuing.

They are trying to forbid it. And like WW2 it probably won't do any good.

The religious aspect is alnost not part of it I bet. Iraq has been a nearly secular state, with lip service to religion,and religion being an important social deal that you make contacts for business at. Hey, doesn't that sound like the US? LOL

I have a friend married to an Azerbijani, friend of my wife because she too speaks Russian, comes from a conservative muslim state, and religion didn't eventually lead them to divorce, and they partied and drank and were like an American culture, but while in Azerbijan, they paid the appropriate social lip service. I think they will be fine if other forces don't rip it apart.

From what I've read the Iraqi's were very secular and intermarried between themselves as well with religion not playing too much into it.

But the sentiment towards Muslim's by much of the US is where I see problems. Especially having Christian soldiers converting to Islam...when I'm pretty sure the Bush administration and some of it's supporters invisioned the exact opposite; the US importing Christianity not Iraq exporting Islam.

It is "so what" and inevitable. It is "so what" to me because the soldier is obviously in love with this woman so what is wrong with marriage?

It is inevitable because it has happened in every war. WWI WWII Korea, Vietnam. There have been American soldiers with Japanese wives and Korean wives and Vietnemese wives. It's nothing new.

But like Amlord pointed out, it could be a security risk because of the personal relationship. It could also be a domestic risk to the woman because of a few who hate us.

If the family of the U.S. soldier doesn't like it, tough. He is old enough and hopefully mature enough to decide on his own.



Yes. Every so often, i run into people who hate islam because it is a hate religion when they haven't even studied it in depth. They see a U.S. soldier who is married to an Iraqi woman, then they will hate them both, like they treated Japanese wives of American soldiers from the WWII era.

Like DTOM, I'm also surprised that there's no ordinance concerning fraternization between soldiers and civilians - not that it would so much good, anyway (if history is anything to go by). Like Amlord, I think the security risk is a bit of a stretch. As to religious issues, I would imagine that such couples would face more difficulties in the US than in Iraq (in terms of intolerance and prejudice).

Kinda like the American/Japanese coupling thing during and AFTER WWII? I say no because we have "matured" in our prejudeces and from what the mother of one of the soldiers who got hitched said she talked numerous times to the woman and she sounds nice to her.

Anyway, if any of you haven't heard, one of the 2 soldiers who got married is being discharged for "taking a break from a foot patrol to marry the woman"and for "divulging the time and location of the patrol to his bride and the Iraqi judge who married them". The second one is stupid because, like Hannity said just a couple minutes ago, "What Iraqi dooesn't know about these guys and their time and location of patrol?"

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And this is for what i quoted Wertz:


She's facing more trouble their. I think she would be better off here.

At least they will try to get re-united. The Military should give this dude a break.

I don't think it's that big of a deal, but I can understand why Iraqis are angry. If people invaved America and then started marrying out women and moving away with them, I wouldn't exactly have warm feelings towards it, and I don't think I'd be in the minority.