Marines at Al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq have found an unconventional outlet for political commentary: the walls of portable toilet stalls. In an institution that officially steers clear of electoral politics, an informal tally scratched into the plastic panels of the base's "Port-a-Johns" gave John Kerry 73 marks to George W. Bush's 58 as of late September 2004.
The Kerry count drew skepticism from fellow soldiers, who noted his tally marks appeared identical, raising suspicions of repeat voting. Independent candidate Ralph Nader drew no mentions at all, while pornography publishers Hugh Hefner and Larry Flynt and heavy metal acts Slayer and Rob Zombie each received write-in nominations.
Much of the graffiti vents frustration at Bush, despite his reputation among many rank-and-file troops as a strong wartime commander. Anti-Texas sentiment runs particularly thick, with several stalls sharing the same crude rhyme mocking the president's home state. Kerry supporters fare only slightly better: separate entries accuse him of betraying his Vietnam-era service record and warn that a Democratic administration would slash military pay.
Lieutenant Josh Walton said the walls' anonymity freed soldiers to speak candidly. Among the entries, one marine inscribed a Plato maxim: "Only the dead have seen the end of war."
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in September 2004, in its own words.