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August 16, 2004
[Have an opinion about the issues discussed in this article?
Sound
off in our Discussion Boards.]
By Jason Chudy,
Stars and Stripes European Edition
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| "Maybe
they’ll see it as we’re conquerors," said Spc. Sixto Garcia
of the 301st Military Police Brigade. "When we put the flag
on the moon it basically said ‘We conquered the moon.’" (Photo
by Jason Chudy) |
|
 |
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| "To
us, it’s (flown for) pride," said Capt. Elena Raspitha of the
226th Medical Battalion. "To the Iraqis, they could see it as
we're occupiers and want to stay." (Photo by Jason Chudy) |
|
 |
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| Iraqi
vendor Imad Sabbar said, through an interpreter: "It would make
people more angry. It would be beautiful if they could put up
the Iraqi flag to show that U.S. forces are here to serve Iraq."
(Photo by Jason Chudy) |
|
BAGHDAD — Troops are everywhere on Camp
Victory in Baghdad, and there’s a post office, a Burger King and
a large post exchange. Everything screams that the U.S. Army is
in town.
Everything is there, that is, except for the U.S. flag flying from
the base flagpole.
Despite the large presence of U.S. forces, military rules have prohibited
the flying of Old Glory in Iraq since April 2003.
“No one may fly, display, post or place the U.S. flag in, on or
over vehicles, command posts, captured equipment, structures, buildings,
monuments or any other location in Iraq,” wrote Coalition Press
Information Center officials in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes.
The policy receives either understanding approval or harsh criticism
from troops in Iraq,
who nearly all have U.S. flags sewn on their shoulders as part of
the Army
uniform.
“That’s [expletive],” said Spc. Starlet Loftice of the 57th Signal
Battalion when she read the regulation. “It’s not like they (Iraqis)
don’t know we’re here.”
In fact, U.S. flags dots bases in Afghanistan
like so many Ferrari banners at a Formula One rally. At Kandahar
Airfield, nearly two dozen Stars and Stripes could be found flying
above tent cities, on the flightline and festooned from Humvees.
At Bagram air base, units run up several U.S. flags a day and then
send them home to family and friends with special certificates saying
the flag was "flown in the face of the enemy."
“Why wouldn’t we be able to fly our flag?” asked Maj. Rob Cunniff
of the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division,
in Kuwait preparing to head into Iraq. “We are American soldiers.
We wear the flag on our right shoulder every day, and it reminds
us of the freedoms we protect.”
Coalition officials counter that the reason for the lack of U.S.
flags flying on the bases is simple.
“Displaying the American flag counters the perception that we are
liberators and partners for Iraqi’s future security and stability,”
the e-mail stated. “Public display of the U.S. flag in Iraq creates
false perceptions and unfounded suspicions that U.S. forces intend
to permanently occupy Iraq.”
Others agree with the policy.
“To us, it’s (flown for) pride,” said
Capt. Elena Raspitha of the 226th Medical Battalion. “To the Iraqis,
they could see it as we’re occupiers and want to stay.”
“Maybe they’ll see it as we’re conquerors,”
said Spc. Sixto Garcia of the 301st Military Police Brigade. “When
we put the flag on the moon it basically said ‘We conquered the
moon.’”
Coalition officials also wrote that the
flying of the U.S. flag could be used as propaganda by enemy forces.
Iraqi vendor Imad Sabbar agreed and said, through an interpreter:
“It would make people more angry. It would be beautiful if they
could put up the Iraqi flag to show that U.S. forces are here to
serve Iraq.”
Walking through the International Zone, Spc. Dale Wade, a Pennsylvania
National Guardsman with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 103rd Armored
Regiment, understands how the Iraqis might perceive the flying of
the flag as signifying permanence.
“Yes, maybe a few might,” he said. “But some actually fly the American
flag themselves.”
Like many National Guard units, Wade’s company has been flying its
home state’s flag.
Others think that flags should be flown in selected areas.
“I think flags should be flown on base
camps, but if there are other places where it would be considered
offensive then, no,” said Maj. Eric Albertson, 2nd Battalion, 2nd
ID, Strikeforce chaplain. “Americans have always been sensitive
to the countries in which they are living.”
“I think yes, because it is our camp and
we are just letting people know that there are U.S. soldiers inside,”
said Sgt. Joe Ramos, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd
Brigade, 2nd ID. “If it is a building we take over, I don’t think
so.”
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