Roommate writes from the Green Zone:
Recently a policy directive was sent out from the command that demanded that all Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, and Marines were to wear reflective vests over their uniforms during periods of darkness. The purpose of the directive is to prevent Soldiers from being hit by vehicles. We are so good to our enemies. We want to make sure that they have an aim point when shooting us at night.
LaFo writes from Zone One:
The wearing of a reflective vest communicates an authority that can impress the locals and inspire them to embrace their civic duty. The beauty of the reflective vest is that it differentiates the wearer and marks them as worthy of respect. Take for example the construction worker directing traffic at the dusty detour spot. When vest man says stop, you stop.
Above the glass ceiling we always try to differentiate in order to inspire. For example, when presenting at a seminar on offshore profit strategies we wear that smart casual shirt and trouser combination to show we exist in a state of zenlike calm as we send jobs to the third world. A tasteful cuff fastener communicates our solid grounding in the tradition of exclusivity that is the hallmark of the few that make it to our level.
A policy can at first glance seem unenlightened can on full study prove to be a vehicle that serves a higher purpose. If you look here you may find that the simple reflective vest worn by all the troops is a commitment to the worldwide dissemination of American style gravitas.
September 11, 2007 at 1:42 am
Policy writer assumes somewhat optimistically that nightime drivers on Iraqi roads would steer away from and not towards said reflective vest.
I agree with LaFo - cufflinks would be a more tasteful way of sending the same message of gravitas
September 11, 2007 at 3:34 pm
LaFo is a crazed madman. Where he lives everyone wears reflective vests if they are outside and at work. He is just wishing he too could wear one!
September 11, 2007 at 6:21 pm
What we fail to realize is that the Iraqi’s, and middle eastern folks in general, have horrible night vision. Thier visual purple gene was bred out of them years ago when it was deemed “unholy” and way too christian by the muslim powers-that-be. Our wearing of reflective vests are a tacticle move to further blind insurgents with all our reflective night-time brightness.