Salsa, karaoke out as U.S. eyes austere Afghan war

reutuers ^ | 10/28/09 | Mohammed Abbas

[Flavius]

The United States is cutting back on luxuries and distractions such as salsa and karaoke nights to free up space for troops fighting an increasingly violent eight-year war in Afghanistan.

Kandahar airfield is the main air transport hub for the U.S.-led NATO mission in Afghanistan and is so cramped its sewage pool is almost overflowing. But the plan to cut recreational facilities is causing a bigger stink.

[Flavius]

[sean327]

I agree with this. The grunts in the field and in obscure fire bases don’t have the same luxuries that those “in the rear with gear” get. I noticed during my Marine Corps career that a good number of army and air force support troops had a certain entitlement mentality, that their morale was somehow more important than the mission. Even without the Starbucks, karoke, and salsa, they have it 100 times better than the trigger pullers. These guys need to suck it up and do their job.

[sean327]

Your opinions please.

[Rodebrecht]

Do they mean salsa dancing, or salsa and chips. Because I don’t see the problem with shipping a couple cases of Tostitos.

[Americanexpat]

They need to get rid of dead weight and get more combat forces over there and then take the war to the Taliban in their mountains and valleys. You can't win an insurgency war sitting behind the wire because your afraid you might hurt civilians if you attack the enemy.

The Army infantry units I served in never got any of the cold beer and ice cream crap everyone seems to think was there for the asking. We stayed out ihe boonies almost all the time not seeing the base camp for months at a time.

[444Flyer]

If it helps morale to have a break and a laugh, what is wrong with it? Sounds like fun. Our military needs some distraction time and a little liberty time to have a break away from the constant stress of their environment.

I say if Obama the Fake gets his Salsa Nights why can't our Troops have equal treatment?

[444Flyer]

BTW the article made mention of ‘gourmet coffee’ like our guys and gals are sitting around the lap of luxury. Any ‘gourmet coffee’ is most likely the result of donations that companies like Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Starbucks, etc. send to our troops which customer's purchase for that purpose. Either that or it is bought by the Servicemembers themselves for consumption. I can almost guarantee you that Uncle Sam isn't picking up the tab.

(Saoirise, is that your understanding? Coffee being a topic near your heart.;’))

[Katydidnt]

I saw the original report and it’s a shame that some people just remember the headline and think that this is the norm. Every year, Marine Corps Family Foundation sends Operation Santa-USMC to troops out in the field who barely have a minute to catch their breath. In Afghanistan they live in tents in the most rugged conditions. This might be the only package some of these grunts get their entire deployment. Please check out the website and donate if you feel so inclined.

OOHRAH! sean327

Katie
http://marinecorpsfamilyfoundation.org/

[444Flyer]

“I saw the original report and it’s a shame that some people just remember the headline and think that this is the norm. Every year, Marine Corps Family Foundation sends Operation Santa-USMC to troops out in the field who barely have a minute to catch their breath...”

Those were my thoughts too, Katy. Some light propaganda in this piece so that Obama won’t be seen in a bad light for defunding something that helps build troop morale by allowing them a short relief in the midst of the hell of patrol and battle readiness.

“Victory for Obama Over Military Lobby [And Loss for U.S. and Obama Says “More Waste To Cut”!]”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373359/posts

But hey, as long as Obama, Michelle and the White House staff get their Salsa Nights who’se thinking about the troops.

“Michelle Obama Might Have a New Dance Partner in Miami”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2363649/posts