It's hard to believe the three starving men woulnd't have the curiosity or intelligence to open an MRE.
Maybe they thought it was a satchel charge
You wrote: It's hard to believe the three starving men woulnd't have the curiosity or intelligence to open an MRE.
Maybe. But think about it. It could have been something harmful, like anthrax in that brown packet. These are guys who know that if THEY were on the other side, they'd be killing the infidels. So they're afraid that the Marines will do as they would. And then our guys are kind, which, as soon as the Muslim/Egyptians have a full belly they'll see as a sign of "weakness" and another reason to "kill the infidels."
It's a no-win situation as long as Islam controls the culture of the Middle East. The Muslims must first separate "mosque and state." Once they do that, democracy will roll in like a late summer afternoon thunderstorm.