Tobacco Shortage Makes Marines Irritable By RAVI NESSMAN, Associated Press Writer IN CENTRAL IRAQ - There is a war on, and danger lurks ahead, and the Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry are getting desperate — for tobacco. It's been two weeks since they left they relative luxury of their camp in Kuwait and their supplies of cigarettes and chewing tobacco are running out. They are rationing their precious supplies, and even begging smokes from local farmers. An army, Napoleon reputedly said, marches on its stomach. But for generations, armies have also marched on nicotine. And these Marines — smoking more than usual under the stress of battle conditions — are getting antsy. "It just crushes morale," said Cpl. Jonathan Kibler, 22, of Lexington, Va. With the few remaining shreds of tobacco nearly gone, the Marines here face the prospect of being involuntarily enrolled in what could be one of the most successful programs to end nicotine addiction in history. --- click link above for complete article
Not trying to sound anti-military or anything, but boo f***ing hoo! The real question is: Why does the military allow soldiers that are supposed to be in top physical shape to smoke in the first place?
Relieves stress, nicotine high, generally is just something to do while your out in the middle of nowhere. I don't endorse smoking, but whatever makes these guys happy.
I'm not endorsing tobacco use, but I am endorsing freedom of choice. These guys are asked to put their lives on the line; the least you could do is let them have a smoke or a dip of snuff if they wish. So soldiers have a few vices. So what? Many athletes use tobacco. Should athletes 'not be allowed' to do so? For the record, tobacco in all its forms is NOT allowed during Basic Training/Boot Camp. The (legal) choices a soldier makes concerning himself are his to make.
Dammit Clutch, let us edit! The last sentence of that last post should read: "For the record, tobacco in all its forms is NOT allowed during Basic Training/Boot Camp. The (legal) choices a soldier makes concerning himself after training are his to make."
The geneva conventions require that tobacco be made available. I wonder if the POW's are getting their cigarettes? If so, how would people feel if in order to adhere to the Conventions, we had to divert the tobacco from our troops? Refrences:
I would glady send a care package with mostly cigarettes if I could figure out where or how with a guarantee it would make it to the troops. I just tried to figure out how and most care packages seem to avoid cigarettes as part of the inventory. Damn, man. These guys need their smokes. We must help them!! This isn't the time to quit smoking!! This is stress relievement time!!! Cigs help deal with stress immensely. Help me out if you can. Maybe Smeg can visit on his world tour and drop them off? Surf
