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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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10

Gates Refuses to Ban Smoking in War Zones

Defense secretary rejects Pentagon study's recommendation

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(Newser) – American troops in war zones won't have to battle the enemy while suffering nicotine withdrawal, CNN reports. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is willing to consider some of the recommendations in a Pentagon-commissioned report calling for a totally tobacco-free military, but he has no intention of ordering stressed-out troops in combat zones to go without their smokes.

"We are fighting two wars right now, using a force that we are demanding more of than we ever have before," said a spokesman for Gates. "They are under enormous stress and strain. The secretary does not want to compound that stress by taking away from them one of the few outlets they have to relieve that stress."

US Army Spc. Seth Cotrell, right, and Staff Sgt. Scott Malecki take a smoke break after a raid on an al-Qaeda cell in Iraq,
US Army Spc. Seth Cotrell, right, and Staff Sgt. Scott Malecki take a smoke break after a raid on an al-Qaeda cell in Iraq,   (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
Pvt. Grant Shinchick from Alton, Ill., smokes at the Blackhawk Combat Outpost in the Nerkh district of Wardak province, Afghanistan.
Pvt. Grant Shinchick from Alton, Ill., smokes at the Blackhawk Combat Outpost in the Nerkh district of Wardak province, Afghanistan.   (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
A US soldier smokes a cigarette during a patrol mission near Baghdad.
A US soldier smokes a cigarette during a patrol mission near Baghdad.   (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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10 comments
VIEWING:
 
Mr.C
Jul 16, 09 2:03 AM CDT
get them a punching bag for that stress Reply
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-5
IN RESPONSE:
Snarfeh
Jul 16, 09 11:51 AM CDT
Punching bags do not fit in their pockets.
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
BOMBS_OVER_BAGHDAD
Jul 16, 09 8:12 PM CDT
Are you volunteering Mr.C? I can give you my coordinates. Have a plane drop you off and pop some green smoke so no one shoots you when you hit the ground.
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+1
NovThird2010
Jul 16, 09 3:32 AM CDT
Just leave them alone! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
kokuaguy
Jul 16, 09 4:30 AM CDT
Not to mention the effect such a ban would have on recruiting. It could be a real deal breaker in a lot of cases I'd bet. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+3

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