GIS UNDER FIRE AFTER MARRYING IRAQI GALS

New York Post ^ | October 7, 2003 | By DAN KADISON and MARSHA KRANES

[F14 Pilot]

October 7, 2003 -- It's been no honeymoon for two Florida National Guardsmen who met and married Iraqi women while serving in Baghdad. The love-struck soldiers - Sgt. Sean Blackwell, 27, of Pace, Fla., and Cpl. Brett Dagen, 37, of Walnut Hill, Fla. - have been in hot water since mid-August, when they defied their commander's orders and marched down the aisle with their Iraqi sweethearts.

[stayathomemom]

My husband went to Bulgaria to deliver some lectures. He said that the woman there were beautiful. Your buddy may have been looking in the right country.

[Mr. Mojo]

Falling in "love" is fine, but converting to Islam? To say that these impressionable lads are 'whooped' is putting it mildly. When the lust wears off these two fools will wake up and wonder what the hell they're doing bowing to Mecca 5 times day.

[GaConfed]

Mighty bitter now aren't we "Miss American Pie?" More and more American men are opting out of "partnerships" with American women for true love, a true wife, and a true mother for their children. Many American women have made their beds, now they have to lie in them.............alone.

As for the guardsmen's conversion to Islam, I suspect it is only temporary; a means to an end.

[tiamat]

EuroFrog wrote:

This should have been expected folks. Look at Korea.

*****************************

Or Germany, or Italy, or Japan or.......

Guys pick up wives. Even the Romans did it once the guy had pulled his 20 and settled into a veteran's colony

And you are right. it should have been anticipated.

Tia

[stayathomemom]

I would suspect that they couldn't marry unless they converted. If the brides had converted, the couples might all be dead.

[Prodigal Son]

Falling in "love" is fine, but converting to Islam?

I was under the impression that a person's religious choices were up to them? It's a matter of personal choice. If you don't want to convert to Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam or any other religion- don't. It's as simple as that.

[F14 Pilot]

That is a rule in Islam that it is better for couples to be from the same religion, that is why these servicemen converted to Islam.
Converted to get to their loved ones, They wont blow us.
Moreover, it is like a funny story. IT IS NOT SERIOUS!

[F14 Pilot]

Thanks, Son!

[F14 Pilot]

That is what I said.

[Mr. Mojo]

And where in my post did I suggest that their conversion wasn't up to them, or that they shouldn't be allowed to convert? I didn't, so kindly stop putting words in my mouth.

I merely expressed my opinion that these guys, when they finally fall out of lust, will regret their hasty decision.

And get off your high horse, Jack.

[ASA Vet]

That's a pretty elitest comment

You were expecting something better from the "Nuc Mecca" crowd?

I've seen nothing to indicate those Florida National Guard members civialian occupations.

Also isn't it strange, no one has called either of them cowards for avoiding war by joining the National Guard.

[Prodigal Son]

I apologize most profusely to you.

I know lots of people convert to the religion of their spouse to be. What's so bad about that? It's like in that movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Dude got baptised in a kiddie pool. People do it all the time (convert not the kiddie pool thing).

[dpa5923]

Do the GI's marry woman while on patrol?

[FLAUSA]

They did it while they were on foot patrol - wearing their uniforms and bulletproof vests and carrying M-16 rifles.

Their brides and a few relatives, led by an intermediary, met them along their patrol route, and then the wedding party ducked into a courtyard for a quick exchange of rings and vows before an Iraqi judge.

A half-hour later, the GIs resumed their patrol. They haven't seen their wives since.

While in a combat zone, against the expressed orders of their commander, these guys left their duly prescribed post. Can you say "dereliction of duty?" I knew you could.

We do not know if the girls in question were members of the ruling party and therefore sworn enemies of the United States, but we do know that ordinary Iraqs, especially women, did not have the opportunity to become high level professionals. So, how did these girls get to be doctors? To whom are they or were they connected? I'm sure someone is looking into that, as we speak.

To those of you who maintain that GI's have always brought home war brides, let me ask did they bring home German Nazi war brides? Did they bring home North Korean war brides? Did they bring home members of any group that has sworn to be in favor of the distruction of the United States?

These two GI's were willing to disobey their officer, put their buddies in danger, and deny their God for these Iraqi women. What else are they willing to do? How many of our KIA were only stopping by to meet some Iraqi woman?

This is not about love or two GI's marrying some local girls, this is about the security of our nation against Islam, Islam is our enemy and now we have two more GI's who are muslim. Muslims in our armed forces haven't been having a good year and neither will these two new converts. Hang 'em high!

[ASA Vet]

At least two have. I guess that makes the answer, "Yes, sometimes."

[AndyJackson]

This is the most biggoted and offensive rubish I have seen here in a long time. Since when do you equate guys defending your country with trailor trash. HOW DARE YOU. If this is your attitude you don't deserve to be defended - certainly by men who are far better folk than you are. They are serving. All you have to do is appreciate it.

One of the central principals of conservatism is that we allow individuals to make their own decisions because they are usually better than government decision. Tell you what - I will bet that these guys made pretty good choices and that these women will be good members of our society.

[foolscap]

Mighty bitter now aren't we "Miss American Pie?" More and more American men are opting out of "partnerships" with American women for true love, a true wife, and a true mother for their children. Many American women have made their beds, now they have to lie in them.............alone

Yes, and good thing these men are doing that. Since they can't stand the heat they should stay out the kitchen. As far as being alone, actually it's very refreshing to have a break from men who whine. It is so unmasculine. Thank God that most American men are not this way.

[ASA Vet]

Hang 'em high!

Before or after their court martial?

[foolscap]

First of all, why would Iraqi doctors marry two grunts in the US Army?

US citizenship possibly. After three years or so of marriage they can leave them and have a whole new life in a better country. It's a small price to pay. There is the possibility they really love these GI which would make for a happy ending. I hope it is the latter.

[GOP_Proud]

Yeah. He went on leave. What I don't like about this story is that they were ON THE JOB. It was planned, which means these Iraqis knew exactly where and at what time these Americans were going to be. I don't like that at all.

Falling in love is fine. Do it on your own damn time, though, and don't put others in danger.