Say Anything Blog

Troops in Iraq are being ordered to avoid displaying Old Glory so as not to offend Iraqis.

From the Washington Times via Venemous Kate:

U.S. Air Force members in Iraq are furious over a recent order to take down all American flags at Kirkuk air base to avoid offending Iraqis.
"The reason we were given is so we would not offend the Iraqi people," said Air Force Technical Sgt. Samuel D. Arbuckle. "We were told that we are not occupying this country. And apparently we are not in charge. Well, my question is this: If we are not in charge, then who is? Obviously the Iraqi people are not. The Iraqi people do not run any of these bases over here yet, and may not for quite some time."

To protest the order, members of the Kirkuk air base fire department continued to fly the Stars and Stripes every day.

"Today in a show of respect and honor especially for those who have fallen, we disobeyed the order and raised our flag, but less than an hour later we were ordered to take our flag down," Sgt. Arbuckle said Tuesday.

Judging by the recent activity in Fallujah by Iraqis, I think they're already offended. A simple flag isn't going to make much of a difference.

What a joke.