ePluribus Media Community || Segregation Rears its Ugly Head

Segregation Rears its Ugly Head

Mon Aug 06, 2007 at 08:27:26 AM EST

It's been nearly 60 years ago that Harry Truman ended segregation in the military and guess what. In some U.S. army bases in Iraq a modern version of "White's Only" signs are appearing on toilets there.. The article At U.S. base, Iraqis must use separate latrine is by Mike Drummond and is from the McClatchy Newspapers

more below the fold

commentary :: :: :: buzz-it!

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARHORSE, Iraq -- The sign taped to the men's latrine is just five lines:
"US MILITARY CONTRACTORS CIVILIANS ONLY!!!!!"
It needed only one: "NO IRAQIS."
Here at this searing, dusty U.S. military base about four miles west of Baqouba, Iraqis -- including interpreters who walk the same foot patrols and sleep in the same tents as U.S. troops -- must use segregated bathrooms.
Another sign, in a dining hall, warns Iraqis and "third-country nationals" that they have just one hour for breakfast, lunch or dinner. American troops get three hours. Iraqis say they sometimes wait as long as 45 minutes in hot lines to get inside the chow hall, leaving just 15 minutes to get their food and eat it.
It's been nearly 60 years since President Harry Truman ended racial segregation in the U.S. military. But at Forward Operating Base Warhorse it's alive and well, perhaps the only U.S. military facility with such rules, Iraqi interpreters here say.

Segregation Rears its Ugly Head | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)

Assuming (to allow the benefit of doubt) (none / 0) (#1)

that the latrine exclusion is intended to assure that IEDs wouldn't be left behind, I'd understand a "NO IRAQIS" notice. But that allowance would require the active enforcement of such a 'safety measure'.

OTOH, there's no benefitting doubt to excuse, for the same reasons, allowing Iraqis in the same mess hall as US service personnel for an hour, but not for three.

by luaptifer on Mon Aug 06, 2007 at 11:00:37 AM EST

I thought about the problem of IED's (none / 0) (#2)

But if Iraqi's or other foreign contractors brought on base wanted to blow things up and had free access to the latrine area and the mess hall they would have plenty of opportunities. And how would they blow it up to kill someone on schedule--ie just one someone has to use the facility.

I think the more credible argument is racism pure and simple.

by carol white on Mon Aug 06, 2007 at 01:37:19 PM EST

Segregation Rears its Ugly Head | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)

Support ePluribus Media -- Support Citizen Powered Journalism!