Because I'm as much of a sap as anyone...

[khaosworks]

All Together Now: "Awwww..." Brought to your attention by Mr. Terence Chua, Closet Romantic

Only these comments. Anybody who doesn't feel the least bit happy for them, please leave the room. And to those who opposed this union, may I present the traditional two-fingered salute.

Love across the lines
It was never going to be easy for the American sergeant and the Iraqi doctor who fell in love in Baghdad - he was kicked out of the army and the country and she was threatened in the street. But now the couple, who married last August and haven't seen each other since, are to be reunited. They talk to Julian Borger
Wednesday February 11, 2004
The Guardian

Saddam Hussein is reputed to be a big Shakespeare fan. He particularly likes The Taming of the Shrew and, more oddly, Romeo and Juliet. For some reason, the ex-dictator believes the tale of the star-crossed lovers teaches children obedience to nation and family. In that case, Saddam must deplore Sean Blackwell and his wife Ehda'a's version of the love story, about which he may even have read before his capture. For a while, they were all over the press - the American sergeant and the Iraqi doctor whose impulsive love affair and speedy marriage briefly united the US army and the nationalist resistance in sheer irritation.

Following their wedding, the US army confined Blackwell to base, stopped him seeing his bride and kicked him out of the military and all the way back home to Florida. Meanwhile in Baghdad, Ehda'a's life was threatened and she still fears for her family, whose name we consequently may not use.

But this particular story of love across the divide looks like it may have a happy outcome. The pair - who have not seen each other since a 20-minute wedding ceremony last August - are due to be reunited this weekend in the Jordanian capital, Amman. After a long struggle with prejudice and military bureaucracy, they will at last be together - bride, groom and the American television documentary team that has been recording every step of their travails.

Yet without the aggressive but sentimental glare of network television, the army might not have let Blackwell go so easily. At one point he even came close to being court-martialled - "for falling in love", as Vickie McKee, Blackwell's mother back in the Florida panhandle, always puts it. It was only after McKee and a local lawyer, Richard Alvoid, made the story world news that the army backed down on the threat of a court martial and dishonourable discharge. Blackwell was given a written reprimand - which he now paraphrases as: "You did this. We told you not to. Bad you" - and given an early ticket out of Iraq.

Comments

[eviltofu.livejournal.com]

Hrm, so a quick way out of Iraq would be to fall in love with someone.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Well, I think it's sweet. More power to them! And I think the army is being a jerk about it--what, have none of this poor boy's superiors ever fallen in love or gotten married? What's wrong with marrying an Iraqi anyway? Supposedly the army is there to help Iraqis, so it's not like they're the enemy or something.

May the rest of their marriage repay in joy what it cost in adversity, a dozen times over!

[gala.livejournal.com]

The Army really needs to read some history books - maybe then they'll remember that the best way to conquer (that is our goal, right?) is to infiltrate.

:)

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwww!

A
swooning with the romance of it

[pickledginger.livejournal.com]

Awwwww, indeed!

I'm so glad it looks as if they'll finally be able to be together.