ROK Drop Open Thread – February 26, 2012

Tags: Open Threads

• Tbonetylr
  4:22 pm on February 26th, 2012 1

  I enjoy reading things like this…
  “Strikes Dragging on at Major Broadcasters”
  http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/520761.html

  
”MBC union president Jeong Young-ha said, “Reporters at both networks(KBS also) agreed that the terrestrial networks are unfair and biased in their reporting, and that we should do low-resolution, fair broadcast reporting online.”


  Let me translate: MBC was first to strike and were initially pissed off that their President didn’t want them reporting so much on the Anti-American FTA shenanigans. But, the reporters insist on doing so in order to be “fair.” Oh yeah, the journalists/reporters demand the network Presidents for both MBC and KBS step down.

  Here is a link for when this first went down on about Jan. 30th…
  http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturesports/2012/01/30/0701000000AEN20120130010200315.HTML
  “The union has argued that the broadcaster has intentionally omitted or reduced the coverage of politically sensitive issues, including protest rallies against the country’s free trade agreement with the United States and suspicions surrounding President Lee Myung-bak’s recent purchase of land for his retirement home in southern Seoul.”

• ChickenHead
  4:32 pm on February 26th, 2012 2

  Which ones would be considered racist and get universal media condemnation?

  1. Aryans for Ron Paul
  2. Whites for Romney
  3. African Americans for Obama

  I guess we will never know… as only one exists.

  http://www.barackobama.com/african-americans/

  You can’t make this stuff up.

• Leon LaPorte
  4:41 pm on February 26th, 2012 3

  2. What about Chinks for Chickenhead?

• Tbonetylr
  4:53 pm on February 26th, 2012 4

  

• JoeC
  6:56 pm on February 26th, 2012 5

  Can it be called racist when the site tries to affilliate with groups of almost every demographic in alphabetical order?

  Under the Groups selection list at the top there is:

  * African Americans [for Obama]
  * Asian American and Pacific Islanders [for Obama]
  * BarackObama.com en Espanol
  * Jewish Americans [for Obama]
  * Latinos [for Obama]
  * LGBT Americans [for Obama]
  * People of Faith
  * Veterans and Military Families [for Obama]
  * Women [for Obama]
  * Young Americans [for Obama]

• Leon LaPorte
  8:00 pm on February 26th, 2012 6

  I notice there is no “Americans for Obama.” Interesting

• Denny
  8:46 pm on February 26th, 2012 7

  Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai: Put U.S. Troops on Trial and Punish Them

  http://cnsnews.com/news/article/karzai-s-response-obama-s-apology-put-us-troops-trial-and-punish-them

  “We all know that regrettably some days ago an American soldier burnt our Holy Koran,” Karzai said, according to the BBC translation. “We condemn this vicious act in the strongest terms.

  “Representing the Afghan nation and their pure sentiments, in fact the Islamic world, once again we call on the US government to bring the perpetrators of the act to justice and put them on trial and punish them.”

• ChickenHead
  8:51 pm on February 26th, 2012 8

  JoeC,

  Where are Caucasians [for Obama]?

  As is frequently pointed out, omission is racism…

  …and the fact that it is uncomfortable to discuss white people as a special interest racial/ethnic demographic says much about the racial-centric attitudes of the demographics that promote themselves as special.

  I never really had much concern for racial politics and policies… but, in recent years, it has become inescapably noticeable…

  …as everything, from complaints over illegal alien crime to celebration of traditional American holidays to trying to fly an American flag in an Hispanic-dominated region, is now branded “racism”… and treated with zero tolerance.

  “Racism” is the new accusation for manufactured outrage when one does not get one’s way or wishes special treatment… and society has been coerced with making the appearance of going along with it.

  And it is growing increasingly irritating… perhaps dangerous… as it masks serious problems in American society and creates others… benefiting only those who use this divisiveness as a tool to create power and wealth…

  …and, of course, perpetuates real racism as those with conflicting goals and values align with others based on their skin color rather than what is intimately good for them as individuals.

  But maybe it is all feel-good smoke and mirrors racial politics to mask the fact that Obama has done far more for rich white bankers than poor unemployed blacks…

  …and “trickle down” will reach the missing Caucasians for Obama long before it reaches African Americans for Obama or Latinos for Obama.

• guitard
  10:38 pm on February 26th, 2012 9

  http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/oscars/watch-sacha-baron-cohen-dictator-spill-kim-jong-005534744.html

  [b]Watch Sacha Baron Cohen as ‘The Dictator’ Spill Kim Jong-Il’s Ashes on Ryan Seacrest[/b]

  It’s no surprise that British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen showed up at the 2012 Oscars in character, as the actor is known for his public antics. While the Academy initially banned him from the awards show when he revealed his intentions to pull a stunt, Cohen was ultimately allowed to hit the red carpet dressed as “The Dictator” from his upcoming film of the same name. But the Academy is probably regretting that decision.

  Flanked by two sexy female bodyguards, Cohen came in full dictator regalia, complete with military suit, Castro beard and Kim Jong-Il’esque sunglasses. But his most important accessory was a fake gold funereal urn that is supposed to be holding the late North Korean dictator’s ashes.

  While being interviewed by E!’s red carpet golden boy Ryan Seacrest, Cohen began to fumble with the urn and proceeded to dump ashes all over Seacrest’s suit. Cohen fumbled yet again, pouring even more ash on the visibly annoyed host. Keeping his cool, Seacrest could only reply, “I had a feeling something was coming.” After interviewing Cohen, Seacrest had to explain his Oscars outfit fiasco to his next interviewees, telling actor Antonio Banderas he the ashes are really Bisquick, and getting sympathy from “American Idol” colleague Jennifer Lopez.

  “I figured he might try something,” Seacrest told Yahoo! “When you see someone dressed as a dictator and talking about Kim Jong-Il, you have to expect the unexpected.”

  For an outrageous stunt like this, Cohen is sure to be greeted with some backlash from the Academy, and perhaps from E! and Seacrest as well. For the chic, yet historically stiff event, the prank may come as a little beacon of humorous light for many viewers.

• Leon LaPorte
  11:08 pm on February 26th, 2012 10

  9. Blocked in Korea…

• guitard
  11:13 pm on February 26th, 2012 11

  I’m in Korea – and it ain’t blocked for me.

• Leon LaPorte
  11:25 pm on February 26th, 2012 12

  11. Very interesting…

• Rosa Manson
  4:19 am on February 27th, 2012 13

  Release International on the 25th February stood outside the North Korean Embassy in London to make the general public aware of the situation in North Korea, and was hoping that the Embassy would respond to their request concerning North Korean Prisoners.
  Release International have a reporter describing the situation on youtube, once again we
  shall see what happens.

  The coalition forum has asked that everyone write to their Chinese Embassies asking that those fleeing North Korea be sent to the South instead of being deported back to the North, where they will be tortured or worse executed.

• tbonetylr
  8:54 am on February 27th, 2012 14

  Sorry Hyundai…
  http://www.greenchipstocks.com/articles/nissan-leaf-sales-soar/1462

  http://ktar.com/6/1506422/Electric-cars-fly-off-the-lot
  “[Nissan] has projected to put up stations for every 30 miles to get to Tucson, and pretty soon they’ll have them going down the I-10 to California,” said Gray.

  Nissan has recently completed a new factory in Tennessee that will only make the Leaf. Once production starts, dealerships will be able to sell more of the vehicles.”

• kushibo
  11:00 am on February 27th, 2012 15

  tbonetylr, why sorry to Hyundai?

• Denny
  12:53 pm on February 27th, 2012 16

  Gay Marine’s homecoming kiss goes viral

  http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/gay-marine-homecoming-kiss-goes-viral-172452159.html

  Five months after the military’s ban on openly gay service expired, a photo of a young gay Marine’s homecoming kiss has gone viral.

  Nearly 15,000 people have liked the picture on Facebook, which was posted in a group for gay Marines on Saturday.

  The Marine, Brandon Morgan, posted a response on his Facebook wall according to the JoeMyGod blog. “To everyone who has responded in a positive way. My partner and I want to say thank you. Dalan, the giant in the photo, can’t believe how many shares and likes we have gotten on this. We didn’t do this to get famous,or something like that we did this cause after 3 deployments and four years knowing each other, we finally told each other how we felt,” Morgan wrote.

• kushibo
  12:57 pm on February 27th, 2012 17

  Denny, two guys kissing is toward the bottom of the list of things I feel compelled to see, but that picture made me laugh, especially having first read the little backstory you provided.

• Retired GI
  6:24 pm on February 27th, 2012 18

  Gay divorce will be even more funny

• Why?
  10:26 pm on February 27th, 2012 19

  Why does USFK treat Reserve Component Retirees as second class citizens and unworthy of using their earned benefits on USFK installations? Active Duty Retirees not on SOFA status and their dependents are eligible for Ration Control Plates (RCP). Reserve Retirees are blocked by USFK from getting RCP’s.
  USFK in their rejection letter for an exception to policy to get an RCP references Article I of the ROK-US SOFA which describes categories of persons eligible for SOFA status. Then USFK quotes the USFK Reg 60-1, Ration Control Policy, Section III, paragraph 25 f, which states “…retirees not receiving full retirement pay and benefits is unauthorized to access duty free goods. Granting approval of the request would violate ROK-US SOFA.” This is false for the following reasons.
  Article I does not address Retirees at all, neither Active Duty nor Reserve.
  Asking for a RCP is not the same as asking for SOFA status. Active Duty Retirees not on SOFA status are eligible and granted as a matter of course RCP’s.
  It is the USFK Reg 60-1 that relegates Reserve Retirees to a second class status and prevents them from using their earned benefits of access to the BX, PX and Commissary like they currently enjoy in the United States, Japan and Europe. Only USFK blocks Reserve Retirees from their benefits.

• guitard
  10:47 pm on February 27th, 2012 20

  @19: Have you written your congressperson to ask about this?

• Why?
  2:08 am on February 28th, 2012 21

  @20. Not yet but just one time I would like a straight answer from USFK without having to resort to writing my Congressman.

• Tbonetylr
  2:23 am on February 28th, 2012 22

  The 2nd part of a two-part series looking at the relationship between the U.S. military and sex industry…

  “Outside U.S. Bases, former bar workers fight sex trafficking”
  http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/02/116_105839.html

  “But she says the E-6 visa was taken by her Korean promoter upon arrival and that the vision rapidly began to slip away. And very quickly, she says, so did control over her life.
  Still, activists maintain that the justice system is sweeping the issue under the rug as part of “longstanding patronage of prostitution for the U.S. military.
  Prostitution ― widespread in Korea ― has long been an issue at “camptowns” outside bases such as Osan Airbase and Camp Humphreys in Songtan and Pyeongtaek, and Camp Casey in Dongducheon as a remnant of
  the 1950-53 Korean War.

  Nobody explains the situation

  “Park Su-mi, director of My Sister’s Home, a shelter for sex trafficking victims, said the trafficking begins when the women are still in the Philippines, where locals work with Korean promoters to recruit and deploy them. “Nobody explains to them the situation in Korea. Their contract does not comprehensively tell what it will be like,” she said.
  The women, many single mothers, go through a rigorous process before receiving the visa that includes an audition by a local agency and making an audition tape to be reviewed by the Korea Media Rating Board, activists say.
  Some say they are promised monthly salaries of around $950 but in reality most of the money is tied to the quota system. Those who protest having sex with customers are threatened to be sent to worse-off establishments and withheld pay if they fail to meet their quotas.”

  Tough battle

  “A senior police officer at Dongducheon Police Station, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that because NGOs regularly visit the clubs, the women should know how to get help if forced into prostitution.

  “For Klarys, the challenge could be particularly steep as the Uijeongbu Prosecutor’s Office has already declined to pick up the case, though she plans to appeal. The prosecutor said it remained “disputable” whether she had been forced into prostitution, saying her claim had been made on her own “internal assessment,” according to official records.”

  “Park questioned whether the investigation had been conducted fairly, saying Klarys had been questioned while the accused ― the bar owner and promoter ― and others were present, creating a confrontational, intimidating environment. She also pointed out the witnesses were still employed by Klarys’ former employer and that he was likely exerting control over them.”

• tbonetylr
  2:04 pm on February 28th, 2012 23

  “Korea begins another study on suspected Agent Orange storage”
  http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20120228001163

  Once people start getting paid they’re hooked on the U.S. moneywagon.

• Leon LaPorte
  5:46 pm on February 28th, 2012 24

  Why do they lie? Even when they do not need to? It’s not OPSEC. So, I here an AFN radio commercial stating that the Camp Casey Ration Control (why we have ration cards is another debate) office is closed due to construction at their office. F@RKING NOT TRUE. The reason is they (IMCOM, PACOM, whomsoever) are under a hiring freeze. As a matter of fact the guy doing it at CRC, well it isn’t his job either.

  It’s like if USFK isn’t lying, they aren’t trying. And that retiree wants a straight answer about why his benefits aren’t honored? “Limited facilities, blah blah, must “serve” active duty first blah blah…” LIARS.

• Leon LaPorte
  5:47 pm on February 28th, 2012 25

  hear, obviously. Edit button GI, edit button…

• Leon LaPorte
  6:14 pm on February 28th, 2012 26

  Open thread! Let’s spread some hate!

  Worship Him!
  –He was born of a virgin December 25 in a cave/manger with his birth being announced by a star in the East and attended by three wise men.
  –His earthly father was named “Seb” (“Joseph”).
  –He was of royal descent.
  –At at 12, he was a child teacher in the Temple, and at 30, he was baptized having disappeared for 18 years.
  –He was baptized in the river Eridanus or Iarutana (Jordan) by “Anup the Baptizer” (“John the Baptist”), who was decapitated.
  –He had 12 desciples, two of who were his “witnesses” and were named “Anup” and “Aan” (the two “Johns”).
  –He performed miracles, exorcised demons and raised El-Azarus (“El-Osiris” Lazarus in latin), from the dead.
  –He walked on water.
  –His personal epithet was “Iusa,” the “ever-becoming son” of “Ptah,” the “Father.” He was thus called “Holy Child.”
  –He delivered a “Sermon on the Mount” and his followers recounted the “Sayings of Iusa.”
  –He was transfigured on the Mount.
  –He was crucified between two thieves, buried for three days in a tomb, and resurrected.
  –He was also the “Way, the Truth, the Light,” “Messiah,” “God’s Anointed Son,” “the “Son of Man,” the “Good Shepherd,” the “Lamb of God,” the “Word made flesh,” the “Word of Truth,” etc.
  –He was “the Fisher” and was associated with the Fish (“Ichthys”), Lamb and Lion.
  –He came to fulfill the Law.
  –He was called “the KRST,” or “Anointed One.”

  His name was Horus and your Jewish zombie is a late comer, a pretender and a fake. Praise Horus!

• ChickenHead
  8:51 pm on February 28th, 2012 27

  Denny,

  I prefer my gay military kisses to look more like this…

  http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/02/28/article-2107841-11F342E0000005DC-580_634x443.jpg

• Leon LaPorte
  9:24 pm on February 28th, 2012 28

  27. It would have been cooler if one was in prego empathy fetish fashion while the other was in a gimp suit.

  /don’t fart in the gimp suit

• ChickenHead
  12:50 am on February 29th, 2012 29

  Come on, Leon…

  There is enough intentional and unintentional misinformation being spread by all sides. Don’t add to it.

  All of the current and extinct religions in the area shamelessly borrowed from each other… and this can be easily demonstrated to someone not brainwashed by the self-serving denials of their brand of holy man…

  …but a hasty Internet list appealing to sensationalism and short attention spans serves as a disservice to the Truth.

  …as this list of “facts” doesn’t ring true at all…

  …and there are a few I know to be false.

  Horus’ father was Osiris, not Seb. Seb was his grandfather.

  Horus’ mother, Isis, being a virgin is a matter of interpretation. Her husband, Osiris, was murdered and cut into pieces. Isis found everything but his… uh… member. She recreated it in gold, reanimated his body with a spell, and conceived Horus. I guess, technically, a girl is still a virgin after an encounter with her Triple Ripple Golden Mambo… but the spirit of the story is not exactly the same.

  Isis, not Horus, raised Osiris from the dead.

  He was associated with a falcon… not a fish, lamb, or lion.

  …and a few I don’t buy…

  I have never heard of an Egyptian crucifixion.

  The alleged nicknames for Horus don’t really fit with his place in Egyptian religion.

  …so…

  I imagine many of the other ones are contrived or incorrect.

  If you want to prove your point, don’t print out an unverified list that does more harm than good to your cause.

  …and when you are truly ready for the Truth, I am here for you, Leon.

• Leon LaPorte
  1:15 am on February 29th, 2012 30

  29. Sorry CH I have to worship Horus in my own way.

• Airdefender
  1:35 am on February 29th, 2012 31

  CURFEW ALERT!!!
  Well, not curfew specifically, but its all part of the same BS.
  I just sent the USFK Policy Letter limiting all service members’ BAC to .10 or below to GI Korea. No mention of civilians of family members in this one.
  I knew this was coming and almost replied to Leon LaPorte’s comments regarding GO 1 being instituted in Korea, but was too lazy.
  Here’s what I know:
  GO 1 was considered and rejected. Not sure about LL’s comments regarding civilians and family members, but applying it to DoD civilians would take an act of courage by Thurman, and he has shown none on this issue. Family members would just be silly. How would USFK tell my wife, a Korean citizen who has lived here all her life, she couldn’t drink in her own country?
  CSM Rodney D. Harris, Eighth Army Command Sergeant Major, told a group of CPTs and 1SGs that the curfew had nothing to do with readiness. Refreshing honesty, but I suppose his ass would be in a sling if Thurman found out. He stated it all was about the upcoming Korean Presidential election. He further stated that this .10 BAC thing was coming and that the command was looking at a “card” system. All E8 and above would be given a card that let them stay out past curfew and that BN Commanders would be given an unlimited number of these same cards to give to other deserving members of their command. All others would be given a different card that indicated that they did not off off-post privileges during the hours of curfew.
  I’ll believe the card thing when I see it, mostly because any card that could not be easily counterfeited would be expensive to produce and manage.
  Lastly, I heard some more things second-hand but a different but usually reliable source.
  One, Thurman thinks it was a mistake to allow people out after curfew with DA31 passes and on leave, so he’s looking to revoke that. Also, he had “no choice” to implement the curfew. Certainly a limited number of people that can order him to do anything.
  Thurman is also looking to change the hours again to midnight until five or midnight until six (I know, PT starts at six on Yongsan). Lastly Thurman really believes (stupidly) that Kim Jong Un is ready to attack at any time, despite what his J2 and everyone else tells him.

• ChickenHead
  4:20 am on February 29th, 2012 32

  “Sorry CH I have to worship Horus in my own way.”

  I agree.

  Impalement of virgins on my… er… Staff of Life is my preferred way to worship anything.

• ChickenHead
  4:51 am on February 29th, 2012 33

  Airdefender,

  Outstanding plan.

  …well, if the plan is to push the drunks and hell-raisers off into Real Korea for the weekend.

  GI Korea,

  One noticeable aspect of every Cunning Plan USFK has tried over the years is the complete lack of follow-up bragging about how it solved a problem… making me believe the real statistics don’t reflect any improvement or caused additional problems.

  In the statistics you keep, would you be able to determine what percent of incidents take place in the policed bar districts and what takes place in Real Korea? Also, what percent happen at what times in Real Korea.

  It is my impression that most of the worst incidents, e.g. Flippin and the Grandma Rapist, happened in non-patrolled areas during curfew hours by people with more than .1 BAC… indicating to me that fussing over BAC will drive the worst drunks into unpatrolled areas just as increased restrictions on “binge drinking” and general GI grabbazzeryy have done.

  I am curious if your facts support this in any way.

• GI Korea
  8:08 pm on February 29th, 2012 34

  @31 – Thanks for the e-mail. The .10 BAC is back. I am waiting for the policy letter to be posted on the USFK website before publishing it. So far they have not posted it on there yet. I don’t want somebody accusing me of an OPSEC violation which is what has happened in the past even though the accusation was total BS.

  @33 – Unfortunately the court martial results do not say where the offense happened but I would bet most of the ROK criminal prosecution incidents happened outside the ville.

• Leon LaPorte
  8:17 pm on February 29th, 2012 35

  34. Ought to be a hot topic on the old Rok Drop once we can get a copy… I’ll look around to see if I can find a public source.

• Leon LaPorte
  8:22 pm on February 29th, 2012 36

  Stumbled on this, CDR’s Top Ten:

  DON’T ASSUME I KNOW EVERYTHING
  NO ACRONYMS!
  KEEP BRIEFS SIMPLE. NO COMPLICATED CHARTS
  EXAMINE 2nd & 3rd ORDER EFFECTS
  DON’T ASSUME AWAY HARD PROBLEMS
  CONSTANT ASSESSMENT OF VULNERABILITIES
  MAINTAIN TRANSPARENCY
  NO AGENDAS! I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER THAN THE MISSION
  BE READY FOR THE UNEXPECTED
  STAY FOCUSED ON THE MISSION AT ALL TIMES!

• Leon LaPorte
  8:32 pm on February 29th, 2012 37

  A blast from the past – with the usual S&S bullshit quotes from soldiers like “It’ll be good for morale!” and “Everybody thinks we need this.” This failed before. It was pretty good at screwing otherwise good soldiers’ careers up though. Those that are predisposed to being “evil-doers” will not be discouraged. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

  2nd ID limits soldiers to .10 blood alcohol level
  By Erik Slavin
  Stars and Stripes
  Published: February 11, 2007

  CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea — Soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Division have been ordered to keep their blood alcohol concentration below .10 or they could face punishment.

  “Each soldier is responsible for knowing when he or she is above the BAC ‘limit,’ just as drivers ensure they must not drive a vehicle when their BAC reaches or exceeds a certain limit,” according to a new policy released Thursday by division commander Maj. Gen. James Coggin.

  Soldiers who exceed the limit are subject to punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, according to the letter.
  Advertisement

  The new rule was ordered, the letter stated, to “ensure that irresponsible alcohol consumption does not deter 2ID from accomplishing its armistice training or wartime fighting mission.”

  The 2nd Infantry Division had more than 100 alcohol-related incidents cited in military police reports in January, an increase over both January 2005 and January 2006, according to the division’s weekly bulletin. Underage drinking was a “significant contributor” to those citations, according to the bulletin.

  But 2nd ID officials declined to provide exact figures on the incidents, saying they believe the higher numbers were the result of enhanced reporting and detection of alcohol-related incidents.

  “This increase in reported incidents demonstrates greater leader and soldier involvement in correcting misuse of alcohol and in discipline” said Col. Mike Feil, 2nd ID chief of staff.

  The new policy letter directs all units to coordinate quarterly training with officials from substance abuse programs to show soldiers “what the .10 BAC level is and what effects an above-.10-BAC has.”

  Out of several randomly selected soldiers at Camp Red Cloud on Friday, none could say exactly how much they could drink before reaching a .10 blood alcohol level. However, most guessed a number lower than their weights might indicate.

  Soldiers said they respected the general’s decision and hoped that the policy could cut alcohol-related incidents, but they also had their misgivings.

  “I think it’s going to be bad for morale,” said Pfc. Michael Stafford, who says he does not drink alcohol. “It’s stressful out here. We’re away from everything and people want to go out and have a good time.”

  Pfc. Kolubah Beyan, of 2nd ID’s headquarters company, said the new policy is much needed.

  “However, it always comes down to a person’s responsibility,” said Beyan, a self-described infrequent drinker.

  How well the policy works will depend on how it is implemented, said Sgt. Bobby Cumby of 2nd ID’s Special Troops Battalion.

  It could encourage soldiers to drink less or could encourage them to stay off-post later for fear of having their blood alcohol level tested when they return, he said.

  “It has its pluses and minuses,” Cumby said. “Hopefully it will take down the number of incidents, but it kind of hurts the people who haven’t been doing anything wrong.”

  The policy letter includes a chart of approximate blood alcohol levels corresponding with weight and number of drinks.

  However, the policy letter states that the chart should be used “as general guidance only”; gender, food, body composition and several other factors also play a role in blood alcohol levels.

  Unit commanders at all levels can order a blood alcohol test based on “probable cause” that a soldier’s blood alcohol level is above .10, according to the letter.

  “‘Probable cause’ is defined as a reasonable belief that a person is, in this case, intoxicated beyond the .10 limit,” wrote 2nd ID Staff Judge Advocate Lt. Col. Walt Hudson in an e-mail response. “It is not a mere suspicion or hunch but based on current and relevant information.”

  Inability to walk, slurred speech and alcohol odor are included among probable-cause considerations, Hudson said.

  Although military police carry breath analysis testers, only legal tests administered in base medical clinics will be used to officially determine blood alcohol levels, officials said.

  Battalion-level commanders have the authority to handle alcohol-related offenses but may delegate those responsibilities, the policy says. They may use their discretion to send offending soldiers to counseling classes.

  Factors that affect blood alcohol level

  Factors that affect how quickly the blood alcohol level rises in the body include:

  Number of drinks per hour.
  Proof or percentage of alcohol in the drink.
  Weight: More weight means more body water, which dilutes alcohol and lowers the blood alcohol level.
  Body composition: Alcohol does not permeate fat cells as well as other tissues, so people with higher body fat compositions may have higher blood alcohol levels.
  Gender: Premenstruation, birth control pills and estrogen medication may cause the body to retain higher alcohol levels. Women generally also have less water in their bodies and less of a liver enzyme called dehydrogenase, meaning less alcohol dilution and less ability to metabolize alcohol.
  Age: A blood alcohol concentration may be higher in an older adult than in a younger adult with similar physical characteristics.
  A full stomach: Food absorbs some alcohol, and a full stomach lowers blood alcohol level before and after drinking.
  The kind of mixer used: When carbonated mixers are used, the body absorbs alcohol more quickly.

  Sources: WebMD, Brown University Web site, National Institutes of Health

• Glans
  11:58 pm on February 29th, 2012 38

  The chief US district judge in Montana forwarded an email with a colorful joke:
  “A little boy said to his mother; ‘Mommy, how come I’m black and you’re white?’” the email joke reads. “His mother replied, ‘Don’t even go there Barack! From what I can remember about that party, you’re lucky you don’t bark!’”

  Here’s the story at GreatFallsTribune.

  The judge, Richard Cebull, is a George W. Bush appointee.
  H/T to TalkingPointsMemo.

• ChickenHead
  12:43 am on March 1st, 2012 39

  USFK is “led” by idiots.

  There is now undeniable proof.

  Let’s look.

  “Each soldier is responsible for knowing when he or she is above the BAC ‘limit,’ just as drivers ensure they must not drive a vehicle when their BAC reaches or exceeds a certain limit,” according to a new policy released Thursday by division commander Maj. Gen. James Coggin.

  This is leadership? Was Coggin dropped on his noggin?

  If you drink ANY alcohol, you MUST NOT DRIVE… and if driving is unavoidable, YOU MUST NOT DRINK.

  This is one of the few situations where “zero tolerance” is actually the correct (and easy to encourage) policy… especially with all the drunk driving convictions in Korean courts which pump up the GI Crime Statistics and actually cause the problems this BAC policy claims it will solve.

  Instead, “leadership” frets over BAC for people walking (or stumbling) down the street in an environment where true leadership would be looking out for guys instead of trying to screw them.

  Any leader who suggests there is some acceptable level of alcohol use for driving is like saying there is an acceptable level if diick length in his mouth. As soon as either crosses one’s lips, the situation changes.

  Next…

  Stars & Stripes is staffed by idiots… lazy hacks sucking USFK’s tit for easy press releases to paraphrase and, regardless of realty, reporting only “facts” that support the official narrative.

  Let’s look…

  “The 2nd Infantry Division had more than 100 alcohol-related incidents cited in military police reports in January, an increase over both January 2005 and January 2006″

  Uh… 2005 and 2006? And the policy of restricting travel to the Philippines is improving safety and readiness as fewer servicemember died on death marches since 1942.

  Does this mean there were fewer alcohol-related incidents than 2007-2011… so the real issue is what changed between 2006 and 2007… or, if 2004 also had lower numbers, what was special about 2005 and 2006? When you are left with more questions than answers, it is the oposite of reporting.

  Chances are this .1 BAC hype is neither a major factor nor a real solution.

  Stars & Strips dutifully “reports” as they are instructed… blatantly lying through misdirection and omission… and supporting USFK’s lies that are frequently just lies.

  Did I mention USFK is run by idiots?

  “according to the division’s weekly bulletin. Underage drinking was a “significant contributor” to those citations, according to the bulletin.”

  Whenever the age of the drinker is a bigger issue than the behavior, it is yet another demonstration of poor “leadership”. Too often, the policy is “let’s bust underage drinkers” instead of “let’s bust people causing problems”.

  “This increase in reported incidents demonstrates greater leader and soldier involvement in correcting misuse of alcohol and in discipline” said Col. Mike Feil, 2nd ID chief of staff.

  Ah-hah! The old “incidents went down because we are so effective”/”incidents went up because our reporting is so effective” trick. In this case, USFK is not as stupid as the people who don’t publicly laugh them back into their hole or the “reporters” who don’t call them out on this and demand real numbers.

  USFK making policy based on suspect statistics they keep hidden while slinging obvious bullshyt is newsworthy of its own weekly story… but, sadly, there are no journalists at Stars & Stripes to write this up… just sad old burn-outs hoping to keep their jobs by rewriting the same pro-USFK story over and over by filling in the blanks and, in a gin-induced haze, getting a couple new “balanced” quotes from the fellow drunks down at the bar… as if there really are equal numbers of GIs who aren’t sure about a new dumbazz policy and GIs who are eagerly waiting for it to affect them.

  USFK and Stars & Strips… two great tastes that taste great together… when the flavor is FAIL.

  The solution to reduce alcohol-related incidents? No drinking and driving. Period.

  The solution to reduce problems? Reduce the unnecessary restrictions that simply generate more “crimes” while hurting those with no evil intent. Encourage the GIs to raise hell in the bar districts in a consequence-free environment for actions that aren’t really a problem.

  Now for those who always whine, “Waaaaa… but… but… you always say bad things about USFK,” but NEVER can refute what I actually say, kindly tell me what part of this analysis is wrong… and show me where the good leadership is here… and what good can be said about USFK in this situation.

• Airdefender
  4:17 am on March 1st, 2012 40

  GI Korea -
  Not sure when it will be posted – my guess is not until after Key Resolve. It has only been sent to BDE Commanders and CSMs for their review.

• GI Korea
  5:30 am on March 1st, 2012 41

  Note that Leon’s article is from 2007 when they first tried to implement the .10 BAC in 2ID. Here is an excerpt of what I wrote nearly 5 years ago that is still true today:

  In the years I have been following USFK issues it seems like every time a new general comes in they face the same problem the commander before them faced and the new general issues blanket policies similar to the last guy that didn’t solve the problem then and won’t solve the problem now. Former 2ID commanders General Honore, Wood, Higgins, and now Coggin have all had their fair share of alcohol related incidents and underage drinkers. Mass punishment policies that have a short term impact that looks good on Powerpoint slides are always implemented, but in the long run the same issues will persist and rise again at the expense of the morale of all the soldiers in Korea.

  Any bets that the next 2ID commander will be facing these same problems when he takes over? It seems nothing ever changes except the name of the commanding general.

• Glans
  3:33 pm on March 1st, 2012 42

  Muslims are forbidden to drink. Is Islam a cool faith, or what?

• Leon LaPorte
  6:20 pm on March 1st, 2012 43

  42. *only in countries where allah can “see” them. Once they get some place like Korea (or even as soon as they are on the plane) the drink is ON!

  allah akbar!

• MTB Rider
  8:27 pm on March 1st, 2012 44

  42, 43:
  When I was in college, my World Religions professor told us about a Prince or Emir he knew while he was attending Boston College. The guy took everyone on a plane ride above the city. As soon as the jet took off and got to cruising altitude, he opened a liquor cabinet, and asked who wanted what.

  My professor said “I thought Muslims were forbidden?”
  “Ah, but that’s what happens when you don’t read the Koran. The Koran says “While man is upon the Earth, he shall not drink wine.” I do not like wine, and… we are no longer upon the Earth!”

  There are loopholes everywhere, as long as you take the time to look!

• Leon LaPorte
  9:13 pm on March 1st, 2012 45

  44. They only need the book to oppress others. No one really believes all that stuff.

• Glans
  1:41 am on March 2nd, 2012 46

  Light reading for Leon LaPorte: Elaine Pagels, “Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation” reviewed by Adam Gopnik at NewYorker.

 

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