Of course...
 

You're right. The media never wants to make the military look bad. The media have been the perfect picture of fairness and honesty when it comes to things they don't like.

I served in the military. This wouldn't have been permitted by my superiors, especially if they knew someone would be around with a camera.

Re: Of course...
 

You're absolutely right, Paxton. It's worth at least a field-grade Article 15 if they ever catch the fool who wrote it, possibly even a court-martial for "Conduct Unbecoming" and "Failure to Obey a Direct and Lawful Order".

Despite what many may believe, this sort of thing is not tolerated in today's military.

By "this sort of thing" so you mean hate messages specifically, or writing on bombs in general?

I've seen several other pictures of messages scrawled on bombs recently. I guess they could all be photoshop work, but I thought they were real.

exqueeze me?
 

Yes, that's a word. I invented it and just as soon as the Board of Wordology approves it, I'll get credit and royalties. Right after I die.


Anyway, speaking as our (I think only) active duty member, the US Navy allows messages to be scrawled on bombs and missiles by the ordnancemen since it does not impair the weapons' function and improves morale. This position is a tradition that dates back to WWII and many photographs can be found of blockbuster bombs with messages to the enemy written on them.

I have no information on the other services policies, but it would seem to me that they also allow this since they all do things pretty much the same way.

Brian

My apologies. I was a little vague before. I was referring to the anti-homosexual remark, not the time-honored tradition of scribbling on ordnance.

As far as the "fag" slur goes... the luckless ordnanceman was who wrote it is probably wishing he hadn't. This thing has gotten a lot of press coverage. I would imagine that everybody in his unit is busy covering their asses right now, in anticipation of the inevitable witch hunt.

Somebody's gonna get sucked into the blades for this one. Command guidance for dealing with "hate crimes" is clear, and local commanders are given very little discretion when it comes to dealing with such things. Another career ruined by a momentary lapse of judgement.

why does the freaking media always have to blow things out of proportion?

Simple, because it's far more interesting that way. Get's better ratings.

two words - sweeps week

But sweeps is two weeks away...I'm curious to see what they're going to do this year.