Marines in Afghanistan: audible farting banned .. it offends Afghans

Thanks to the Military Times

You can also find the story on Google by typing "Fart"+"Marine"

First we get hit with Don't Ask Don't Tell, now we have to deal with Don't Ask, Don't Smell.

We ask a lot from our troops, not only must they fight an elusive, enemy that employs the dirtiest of tactics and tricks to kill the maximum number of Americans, Coalition forces and Afghan civilians, they also must win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people, respect their culture, religion.

Now here is the latest directive for Marines ;

"Audible farting has been banned for some Marines downrange because it offends the Afghans."

It's not easy operating in foreign country and culture, especially when you are expected to wage war on the enemy, and not offend anyone at the same time. The Marines that we send into combat are the best of the best.

The same kid who a couple of years ago would not share a candy bar with his brother or sister, or would take his ball and go home because his buddies wouldn't play the game his way -- Now would sacrifice his life for a people he doesn't know or understand, would give his last MRE to hungry Afghan child, or risk his life to pull a wounded comrade out of harms way.

Farting ? C'mon people get serious, it's almost a sport in the military.

Someone you should know U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Dakota Meyer

Ambush Survivor Dakota Meyer


Dakota Meyer, who left active-duty service in the U.S. Marine Corps in June 2010, will receive the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan. The former corporal will be the third living service member to receive the Medal for actions in Afghanistan or Iraq, and the first living Marine to receive it in 41 years. U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta personally accepted the Medal in November 2010, and Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry did so just last week.



On Sept. 8, 2009, Meyer and his unit came under attack from jihadis who outnumbered them four to one. Urgent calls for artillery support were refused, leading to letters of reprimand for some of the officers heading the operation. When helicopter pilots couldn't help retrieve four missing service members due to fierce enemy fire, the Marine Times reports, "[Meyer] charged into a kill zone on foot and alone to find three missing Marines and a Navy corpsman, who had been pinned down under intense enemy fire in Ganjgal, a remote village near the Pakistan border in violent Kunar province. Already wounded by shrapnel, Meyer found them dead and stripped of their gear and weapons, and helped carry them from the kill zone." Meyer said that he feels like "the furthest thing from a hero" because he didn't recover his comrades alive. Our hearts go out to the families of the fallen Marines and Navy corpsman, as well as Meyer. His selfless heroism is worthy of honor.

Marine Corps Times