Bathrooms segregated at military base

[LordJFT]

The Iraqis who live and work at Forward Operating Base Warhorse near Baqouba aren't allowed to use the same bathrooms as Americans, according to McClatchy Newspapers.

A sign on the door to the men's latrine says: "US MILITARY CONTRACTORS CIVILIANS ONLY!!!!!"

"Another sign, in a dining hall, warns Iraqis and 'third-country nationals' that they have just one hour for breakfast, lunch or dinner," the story says. "American troops get three hours. Iraqis say they sometimes wait as long as 45 minutes in hot lines to get inside the chow hall, leaving just 15 minutes to get their food and eat it."

No one's sure when the rules were imposed. McClatchy says officials offered two possible reasons for the segregation: "operational security concerns" and "cultural differences."

The story says Warhorse is thought to be the only U.S. military facility in Iraq that imposes such restrictions

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/08/segregated-bath.html

[LostinVA]

1. Makes sense for security concerns

[Hangingon]

2. Absolutely!

An Op Sec necessity - clear to anyone who thinks.

[Solo_in_MD]

3. I could understand the cultural difference part...western style toilets

[LordJFT]

4. so we should tell the Iraqis whats culturally appropriate for them?

I see no problem with having two styles of toilets, it's forcing Iraqis to use one style of toilet that bothers me.

[Solo_in_MD]

5. Some squat, some sit...

There may also be foot baths there for religeous reasons too

[LordJFT]

7. yes, i understand that

So why should they be forced to use a certain bathroom rather than given the choice?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. Suuuuuure.

That's the ticket.

[TankLV]

8. so - I thought this was going to be about black/white...

I see nothing wrong here at all...