[Marxism] Brokeback troopers

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11064758/
Gay porn site may feature U.S. paratroopers
Army investigating allegations that members of 82nd Airborne appear
The Associated Press
Updated: 7:10 p.m. ET Jan. 27, 2006

RALEIGH, N.C. - Army officials are investigating allegations that members
of the celebrated 82nd Airborne Division appear on a gay pornography Web
site, a spokeswoman said Friday.

Authorities at Fort Bragg have begun an inquiry into whether the
paratroopers' actions violated the military conduct code.

Division spokeswoman Maj. Amy Hannah declined to say how many paratroopers
are involved or identify their unit within the division. A defense official
speaking on condition of anonymity said up to seven soldiers are involved.

Hannah said soldiers questioned will be allowed to seek legal assistance,
but she declined to say if any one had been charged.

"Once the investigation is complete, the chain of command will take
appropriate action," Hannah said.

Site registered to local owner

The military-themed Web site does not appear to make any direct reference
to the 82nd Airborne or Fort Bragg. The registered owner of the Web site's
domain name lists an address in Fayetteville, the city that adjoins Fort Bragg.

E-mails to the registered owner were returned Friday as undeliverable, and
the phone number listed on the domain-name registration is no longer in
service.

The Web site includes a disclaimer, asking users to agree that they are not
agents of the U.S. government, Department of Defense, members of law
enforcement or reporters.

Martha Rudd, an Army spokeswoman at the Pentagon, said soldiers accused of
homosexual activity might be removed from their units, although she did not
have specific information about the investigation of the 82nd. When asked
if the soldiers involved had been moved out of barracks, Hannah declined to
comment.

"We are concerned about the privacy and rights of each trooper involved and
that they are treated with dignity and respect," Hannah said.

'Don't ask, don't tell'

Maj. Todd Vician, a Defense Department spokesman in Washington, said the
military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy states that "homosexual
orientation alone is not a bar to service, but homosexual conduct is
incompatible with military service."

"We define homosexual conduct as homosexual acts or verbal or nonverbal
communication that a member is homosexual," Vician said.

The 82nd Airborne is one of the most celebrated units in the military. Its
15,000 troops are trained to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours.

Soldiers from the division have served extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan,
and several thousand troops remain overseas.


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