LOUISVILLE, KY -- U.S. Army officials are taking a close look at whether women in a Kentucky National Guard unit posed nude for pictures with their M-16s and other military equipment, authorities said.
A local newspaper reported that it had a disc containing 232 of the photos, which they did not publish, and do not plan to publish....
"This is not the kind of activity condoned by the command leadership of the Kentucky National Guard," Lt. Col. Phil Miller, a spokesman for the Kentucky Guard, told the newspaper. The allegations were reported to the commander of the 410th Quartermaster unit a week or so before the company shipped out for Iraq on Aug. 26 from Camp Shelby, Miss.
Lt. Col. Rich Steele, a spokesman for the First Army at Fort Gillem, Ga., said that if the allegations are proved, punishment could range from informal reprimands to courts-martial. He said the investigation is being conducted in Iraq. - Editor & Publisher, Sept. 28, 2006
I would think the Army brass already have their hands full in Iraq, but apparently they will not rest until they get to the bottom of this. Are these "girls gone wild," or soldiers having a little diversionary fun? Does it matter?
The military investigation seems patently unfair. Measured on a scale of damage done, the women's voluntary disrobing ranks well below other questionable antics the Pentagon routinely ignores and sometimes finances (see From massacre to lapdance).
Besides, one amateurish photography session -- or even a strip show by, or for, the troops -- bears no resemblance to the clearly illegal practices that have been condoned by the government's own alternative interrogation techniques.
It is not the women of the Kentucky Guard but, regrettably, the president and his rubber stamp Congress who have gone wild. Who will investigate them?
Update, Nov. 8: Female Kentucky National Guard soldiers will face nonjudicial proceedings for nude photos.
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4 comments:
It only seems fair after all the news about going after gay men that the powers that be would crack down on females too.
"The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others."
Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)
Yeah. And damn good and well they don't allow them thar homo-sexu-erls to serve openly in the same army, too.
Think of the morale breakdown that bare-breasted women and bare-cheeked boys would cause the real fighting men! :-)
Hey "that girl," thanks for the comment. My hat's off to you. It's a shame the pics fell into the wrong hands and that the newspaper chose to publish the story, but it seems even worse that the military would continue to pursue this -- even to Iraq!
I sincerely hope the Army quietly drops it. The crime would be in penalizing you and the others. Please stay safe and let us know how things are going in Iraq.
In an unrelated story --
Marines Strip To Raise Cash For Wounded Buddies
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