WASHINGTON, D.C. — Citing the detrimental effects that smoking has on the health of service members facing torture and near starvation while imprisoned in oft-brutal conditions, the Pentagon announced Monday it was taking steps to ban tobacco use for all prisoners of war through an amendment to the U.S. Code of Fighting Forces, more commonly referred as the Code of Conduct.
If adopted by Congress, Article 7 of the code would read:
“I recognize that smoking and dipping are a detriment to my health and to the health of my fellow prisoners. If I am senior, I will take steps to encourage tobacco cessation amongst my subordinates. If not, I will do everything in my power to encourage a smoke-free environment for my superiors, my comrades, and my captors.”
