Squaddies with beards....
There's a rather amusing, if informative tale on the Sky website about Her Majesty's Finest in Afghanistan sporting full sets. This is contrary to usual Army regulations on face fuzz, but some sage has recognised that the culture of Afghanistan requires men to have beards if they want to be regarded as having authority and masculinity. Good for the powers that be showing some fine practical thinking on the matter and I trust it will help in winning hearts and minds.
Here's the tailpiece:
As a footnote, I cultivate a beard every once in a while (varying from a a goatee to a Solzhenitsyn special)and when bearded I do find the world looks quite different, so I can understand the position of the Pashtuns.
Here's the tailpiece:
"Lieutenant Rob Phillips leads a twelve-strong patrol from Two-One Air Assault Battery through the town. A luxuriant red beard is revealed when he unstraps his hard hat, before chatting to locals. "To them, it signals I am the commander. They've associated it with authority through all of their culture."
As a footnote, I cultivate a beard every once in a while (varying from a a goatee to a Solzhenitsyn special)and when bearded I do find the world looks quite different, so I can understand the position of the Pashtuns.
Labels: South Asia, war on terror
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on Monday, July 17, 2006 at 10:58 am.
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being honest though,in that heat it must be unbearable.
Yeah, probably not much fun sporting a beard in such circumstances, although I expect this rates as one of their lesser worries.
I could see Gordon Brown with a big moustache....
Croydonian are you expecting us to go down the road of discussing famous beards?
Ho ho. Let us hope there aren't any greedy lawyers reading.
that's what I meant
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