‘Chinks in armor’: US Army’s deleted tweet sparks racism outrage

IT WAS a storm in a Twitter tea cup. But not even the US Army expected to come under fire this much, first for posting a tweet seen as racist, the for deleting it.

A US army soldier aims an XM25 weapon system at Aberdeen Test Center, Maryland, 30/07/2009. After years of development, the XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System has now been deployed to US units on the battlefields of Afghanistan, where the Army expects it to be a 'game-changer' in its counterinsurgency operations.

IT WAS a storm in a Twitter tea cup.

But not even the US Army expected to come under fire this much, first for posting a tweet seen as racist, and later for deleting it.

The storm erupted late last week after the US Army posted a Tweet, referring to “chinks” in the armour of its Special Operations capabilities.

The Tweet, posted on Thursday, read: “Chinks in special ops’ digital and physical armor poses challenges, experts say.”

Armor will no longer have "chinks," per US Army, but will hereinafter have Asians. Did anybody ask an Asian? http://t.co/R4TGL9aO0n

— Scott Greenfield (@ScottGreenfield) January 30, 2015

Some said the Tweet was unacceptable, pointing out it’s potential to offend people of Chinese descent.

@RealMarkNewman @USArmy Surely this is a joke? 'Chink in the armor' is an idiomatic late medieval term of military reference ...

— Philip Terzian (@PhilipTerzian) January 30, 2015

Others asked where the apology was after it was taken down by the US Army.

But the real trouble began after the tweet was deleted with many pointing out the meaning of the term had nothing to do with racism.

However, most blasted the army for succumbing to political correctness gone mad.

The @USArmy has decided to take down its racially insensitive tweet from earlier today making reference to "chinks". But, no apology?

— Danny S. Chung (@JarheadPAO) January 30, 2015

US Army bullied into taking down "racist" tweet mentioning "chinks in armor" http://t.co/Rlcxzx6CsV

— Chmunk (@Chmunk) February 1, 2015

@tanehisicoates Ran across a man on Twitter livid abt US Army's tweet re "chinks" in defense. Legit 16th cent word used in nonracial context

— Susanna Williams (@SusannaDW) February 1, 2015

Oxygen thieves upset at @USArmy 'chinks in armor' tweet have collective intelligence of an amoeba.

— Casey Hendrickson (@caseythehost) January 30, 2015

Are people really getting angry at the US Army using "chinks in armor" when there's another meaning besides Asians http://t.co/JinhB0Kco8

— Mr. Lion (@SCJ_) February 1, 2015

*US Army tweets "chinks (potential weaknesses) in digital/ physical armour* *whole internet goes crazy over the term* Christ.

— St. Blaze Day (@Nekrospike) February 1, 2015

I'm sorry, but when the US Army tweeted about '#chinks' in their armour, they clearly weren't talking about Chinese people!

— Dan King (@MrDanielJKing) February 1, 2015

US Amy public affairs officer Lt. Col. Alayne Conway told The Washington Post it never meant to offend anyone and it was surprised by the reaction the tweet caused.

He added there was nothing even remotely racial” in the expression but the tweet was deleted nonetheless.