These are my random musings. Hopefully they will be witty, insightful, and frequently updated.
They have what?! Is it too late to change teams?
Published on January 6, 2006 By singrdave In International
From Reuters:

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch troops helping earthquake survivors in Pakistan have complained that while they are subject to an alcohol ban, Spanish and British soldiers laugh at their austerity and turn up drunk at their campfire.

"We were told before we arrived that alcohol was banned in this country or else very difficult to get hold of and we accepted this," one soldier told the Dutch daily De Telegraaf.

"The Spanish drive around with cars full of Heineken ... and the English laugh at us when they show up at our campfire drunk," another Dutch soldier said.

A Dutch defense ministry spokesman said it was standard policy to ban alcohol in Muslim countries in line with local custom and Dutch troops were being well looked after.


I know that American soldiers have to follow local custom forbidding alcohol, though a lot of bootlegged and smuggled booze turns up. But drunk Brits and Spaniards goofing off and cavorting? C'mon now... surely we can run a humanitarian mission without hitting the hard stuff?


Comments
on Jan 06, 2006
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on Jan 06, 2006
I have it on good authority that the Brits in Iraq get gin in cans, but that it's terrible gin.

So.

I'll say, it's probably "any port in a storm" sort of attitude, though.
on Jan 06, 2006
I'll say, it's probably "any port in a storm" sort of attitude, though.

Do they get gin or do they get port (wine), then? I'm confused.
There are many non-Muslim alcohol vendors in Iraq and various other nations that ban alcohol. In fact, a lot of the articles I looked at regarding this mentioned the vendors are getting their stalls destroyed by Muslim purges. From Amnesty International:

Since the start of the occupation scores, possibly hundreds, of people have been deliberately killed by individuals or armed groups in southern Iraq for political reasons, including for perceived moral infractions such as selling or buying alcohol.

So booze is readily available. It's not hard to get. If you can find a vendor whose booth isn't on fire, that is.
on Jan 06, 2006
I am shocked!  Shocked that Reuters did not turn it into America's fault some how!
on Jan 06, 2006
Shocked that Reuters did not turn it into America's fault some how!


Everything is, by inference, GWB's fault.
on Jan 06, 2006

Everything is, by inference, GWB's fault.

Yea, I caught that feeling!  If dubya had not gone on the wagon, the Dutch would not have to either!

on Jan 06, 2006
The no-alcohol-because-they're-muslim thing is bullshit because most of the locals drink too.
on Jan 06, 2006

The no-alcohol-because-they're-muslim thing is bullshit because most of the locals drink too.

Shh! The PC crowd might hear you!

on Jan 07, 2006
The locals should be glad. This is the Dutch, right? At least they don't want to set up pot bars.

"So weed is legal there, right? Yeah, it's legal, but it ain't one hundred percent legal. You have to smoke in your home, or in certain designated areas. But that don't matter, right? Because if the cops pull you over, it's illegal to search you. That does it baby, I'm going.............."