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View Full Version : Pentagon won't ban war-zone smoking, despite study


Terri
07-16-2009, 07:40 AM
By PAULINE JELINEK
Associated Press
July 16, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Smoke 'em if you got 'em. The Pentagon reassured troops Wednesday that it won't ban tobacco products in war zones.

Defense officials hadn't actually planned to eliminate smoking -- at least for now. But fear of a ban arose among some troops after the Defense Department received a study recommending the military move toward becoming tobacco-free -- perhaps in about 20 years.

Press secretary Geoff Morrell pointedly told a Pentagon news conference that Defense Secretary Robert Gates is not planning to prohibit the use of cigarettes, chewing tobacco or other tobacco products by troops in combat.

More (http://www.gopusa.com/news/2009/july/0716_pentagon_smokin g.shtml)