Bah
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Glad you made it home! :-) :-)
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Hey Alex is this just for Iraq?

AFP

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 ****ography 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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Wow....hope you get included in the beer bash, Alex! :-) :-)
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:-)to all................as for the beer issue it doesn't apply here :-)
tonight is the big herf w/the KIWIs and no mail to report, looks like the Cigar Caddy's will have to wait till the next herf...as a matter of fact there has been little to no mail since the holidays :-) maybe someone hijacked the mail trucks
y'all have a good weekend and stay warm and dry
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:-) Alex.


Did you get to see "W" the other day?
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Salutes joe
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nope not this time either :-)
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Stay warm and safe:-):-)
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just got back from the big herf @ the KIWIs compound, those boys know to throw on the feed bag...had sausage and burgers w/grilled onions & mushrooms

had plenty of smokes to go around.....at top head count had close to 40 people standing around smoking

:-)to all.................hope the mailman shows up soon, stock good for 1 (maybe 2) herfs..........have a few inbound, just haven't arrived
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Salutes, Alex!:-) Hope you got to watch your "Gators" Kick A**! Have a good smoke, Bro!:-)
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Sounds like an awesome herf, Alex! :-)
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another day w/o any mail call.................can't wait for Sat to herf again, this week is not going well and it just started :-)

:-)to all and have a good Sunday
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:-) Alex.

Sorry for the delay, but I should have a box out early next week. Just waiting for a couple of things to come in.
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thanks Tony, and again thanks for the support :-)
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Salutes Alex, my pkg better get there...damn slow mail, but I think it will be worth it!:-):-)
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today we have mail call.......thanks to Dave (trishield) & his lovely wife Celeste.............lighters, cutters, mac nuts, every troops must have "wipes" & a warm blanket:-)
:-)to all
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Very nice Dave and Celeste! :-)

Salutes, Alex! :-)
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todays mail courtesy of Jamie @ Cigar Caddy......30ea 5ers to pass out at next BAF herf w/some 50 RP Edge smokes................thanks Jamie :-)

:-)to all
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We're happy to do it Bub.
The war gets real personal when a close friend gets shipped out :-)
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