"There's no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole"

Here's an interesting story about a soldier who was sent back to a base in the US from Iraq, because the Army couldn't protect him...from other soldiers who were harassing him for being an atheist.

Before saying anything else, I will say that I'm sure there's a hell of a lot to this story than we're given. One wire-service piece isn't exactly conclusive evidence of anything, even of there being an actual issue.

That said, I think that if this lawsuit goes anywhere, it'll set a interesting precedent. I know that at least certain branches of the military have had some religious tolerance issues in the past (I'm thinking of the Air Force Academy here, but I'm sure there have been other incidents), but so often it's broken down into a "Christian vs Jewish/Muslim/Other Not Christian Religions" viewpoint. If nothing else, it's intriguing to see an atheist take it on.

If his complaints have any solid grounding, then it's truly shameful. Isn't our military supposed to be fighting for freedom and liberty and equality and all that stuff? Shouldn't that start within the military itself, because it's awfully hard to show another country who already doesn't like you how to have a just and free society if the 'liberators' are being harassed by their peers for their religious views.