Entertaining Soldiers in Gulf Area Is ‘Ludicrous,’ General Says
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Al Gray says it is “ludicrous” to send entertainers to visit American forces in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf.
The entertainment, organized by the USO, is inappropriate because it “detracts from the mission at hand,” Gray told reporters Tuesday during a visit to this Marine training base.
“We shouldn’t be having any shows over there,” Gray said.
The United Service Organization has booked comedians Steve Martin and Jay Leno, and it is seeking other big-name talent to entertain the more than 150,000 American soldiers, sailors and airmen deployed in the gulf area. Martin is scheduled to meet with soldiers next month at an air base in the northeastern Saudi city of Dhahran.
“That’s ludicrous,” said Gray, who made no mention of the specific entertainers. “Common sense will tell you” that such entertainment is inappropriate, he said.
Gray, who rarely grants interviews, had little else to say about the situation in Saudi Arabia except to note that the Marines are continuing to ship supplies and equipment to improve their capability to sustain a possible combat mission.
About 45,000 Marines are in the gulf area, including about 12,000 from Camp Lejeune.
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