Freedom of Speech in the Global War on Terror: The Case of “Hadji Girl”

During the global war on terror, soldiers in the theatres of Iraq and Afghanistan created, uploaded and circulated videos that chronicled their experiences in the war zone. These videos, which took the form of combat music videos or tributes to fallen soldiers, served as the latest manifestation of soldiers’ “letters home” and were widely covered in popular culture and academic venues (see Anden-Papadopoulos; Christensen; Coughlin; Kaufman; McClam; Sax; Smith & McDonald; Terry). News accounts initially praised the soldier-produced videos for providing images that served as an alternative to military sanctioned material and fostered public engagement with the war effort. The military also believed the videos allowed soldiers to fill their downtime and communicate with friends and family. However, several controversies over offensive videos led the military to re-conceptualize their strategic communications approach. One such controversy involved the posting of “Hadji Girl,” a video of a song by U.S. Marine Joshua Belile, which described a fictional love affair and killing of an Iraqi civilian and her family. The term “Hadji” is a derogatory term that some military personnel serving in Iraq used to describe the civilian population. In the song, Belile goes to a Burger King where a young Iraqi girl entices him to follow her home. Upon arrival, her male relatives begin to attack him. Using the girl’s sister as a human shield, he proceeds to kill the entire family. The visual depiction had Belile performing the song for fellow soldiers who could be heard cheering and laughing at Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq. The video was initially uploaded in March 2006. It was widely circulated and debated in June 2006 and subsequently generated outrage among Muslim-rights and anti-war groups. Conservative groups defended it as an expression of free speech. In particular, on June 12, 2006, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) circulated a press release protesting the song’s celebration of killing civilians and the use of racist language to characterize Arabs. The organization’s stated concern was that “it creates a negative impression of our nation’s military. We’re also concerned that it may be symptomatic of a callousness that is developing against Iraqi civilians, which is also not good for the military or for their image in the Muslim world” (CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, cited in Kaufman). On the other hand, the reaction of some journalists and conservative bloggers claimed the video was merely an example of “blowing off steam” under stressful conditions (Michelle Malkin). Belile echoed this claim when he initially argued, “I think it’s a joke, and anybody who tries to take it seriously knows it’s a joke. People can’t just laugh at it and let it go” (Belile, cited in Mazzolini). Nevertheless, military spokesperson Major Shawn Haney condemned the song: “The video that was posted anonymously is clearly inappropriate and contrary to the high standards expected of all Marines” (cited in Mazzolini). Lieutenant Colonel Scott Fazekas said: The video is not reflective of the tremendous sacrifices and dedication demonstrated, on a daily basis, by tens of thousands of Marines who have assisted the Iraqi people in gaining their freedom. We agree with the executive director of the Council on