Washington – The United States Marine Corps has banned audible farting in Afghanistan because it is culturally offensive to civilians working with the military and members of the Afghan National Army.
The Military Times Marine Corps blog, Battle Rattle recently posted the news that “audible farting has been banned for some Marines downrange because it offends the Afghans.” The ban has caused a stir among former and current members of the military who question the reasoning behind the decision which has ignited a firestorm of comments from readers and fellow bloggers of Battle Rattle. Military soldiers have already been required to obey regulations ordering them to not curse around members of the Afghan army or the civilians they encounter while on patrol. They are also under orders to not discuss women or politics with people from Afghanistan. But for now, breaking wind could earn them an appearance before their superior officers. For the military that means no more gas blasters, bean bombers, flame-throwers or anal acoustics at night. The roar of morning thunder, air biscuits or flatulence by any name will no longer be tolerated. Anything but an inaudible passing of gas could get you in trouble if it's within earshot of an Afghani, according to Battle Rattle. Blogger Gina Cavallaro writesabout the ban on the offensive behaviour:
They’re not supposed to cuss because it could be misunderstood (that one goes out the window a lot). And they stay away from talking about politics, religion or girls because those topics could escalate into major disagreements (they can’t communicate anyway because of the language barrier). But farting? That’s practically a sport. Ok, it’s not soccer, but a good contest could open the door for cross-cultural exchanges, jokes and other gallows humor.
Jim Campbell expressed his outrage over the decision by senior military officials and wrote: “So now we understand that Muslims in Afghanistan are offended by the sound of anal gas explosions but are quite comfortable with, beheading, stoning, female genital mutilation, pedophilia, amputations, and hanging or burning homosexuals.”
Phi Beta Iota: We do not make this stuff up. Ten years into killing all these people, and we focus on farts now? Perhaps the Marine Corps should spend more time acquiring a proper weapon for its infantry, and keeping the US Navy honest on brown water capabilities including non-existent naval gunfire support.
See Also:
1991 MCG Intelligence Support for Expeditionary Planners
1990 Expeditionary Environment Analytic Model
1989 Expeditionary Environment Briefing
2008 U.S. Naval Power in the 21st Century
Reference: Intelligence Support to Small Arms Acquisition–A Brilliant Indictment
