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Tim Hortons escapes U.S. fast-food purge in Afghanistan (Obama closes fast food for GIs)
Vancouver Sun ^ | 3/26/2010 | Juliet O’Neill

Posted on 03/26/2010 10:40:31 AM PDT by Titus-Maximus

OTTAWA -- Canada’s Tim Hortons coffee shop at Kandahar Airfield will remain open despite a shutdown of Pizza Hut, Burger King and other U.S. outlets deemed too luxurious by top American commanders of NATO troops.

“Kandahar Airfield Tim Hortons is an initiative to support our men and women in uniform for serving in Afghanistan,” Defence Department spokeswoman Megan MacLean said. “There are no plans to close the Tim Hortons.”

Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, who leads the International Security Assistance Force, has ordered most fast-food outlets on the boardwalk inside the airfield base shuttered.

Command Sgt. Maj. Michael T. Hall revealed the plan in a post on an ISAF blog last month.

“Many of you have heard that there are plans to shut down some of the ‘amenities’ throughout Afghanistan,” he wrote. “This is not rumour. It is fact. This is a war zone -- not an amusement park.”

Sgt. Maj. Hall said he and Gen. McChrystal had been looking for ways to do things more efficiently and to optimize ISAF resources from the moment they arrived in Afghanistan last summer. Gen. McChrystal is overseeing the surge in U.S. troops and resources over coming months.

“One of the ways we’re going to do that -- in order to accommodate the troop increase and get re-focused on the mission at hand -- is to cut back on some of the non-essentials. That includes some of the morale, welfare and recreation facilities throughout Afghanistan. In the coming weeks and months, concessions such as Orange Julius, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen and Military Car Sales will close their doors.”

He said commanders across the battlefield are implementing additional cutbacks while still providing services within individual nations’ interests and regulations.

The Tim Hortons is located next to the American concessions, many of which will be closed. Operated from a 12-metre trailer, Canadian military support staff manages Tim’s and profits go to health and welfare programs for Canadian Forces members.

He said Green Beans Coffee would remain at bases across Afghanistan, and bazaars and businesses which employ Afghans and feed the local economy will still continue to operate.

Sgt. Maj. Hall also said there would be fewer first-run movie showings and a reduced amount of canned and bottled goods coming into the country.

“What it comes down to is focus, and to using the resources we have in the most efficient and effective ways possible. Supplying non-essential luxuries to big bases like Bagram and Kandahar makes it harder to get essential items to combat outposts and forward operating bases, where troops who are in the fight each day need to be resupplied with ammunition, food and water.”


TOPICS: Canada; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; bhodod; fastfood; halal; militarybase; obama; sharia
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To: Titus-Maximus

I remember the original story.
It had more to do with space and logistics considerations than politics or even Obama.


21 posted on 03/26/2010 10:54:07 AM PDT by SJSAMPLE
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To: Titus-Maximus
I was based in a FOB three times while over there and never saw any of those except when it came time for me to fly back to the U.S. Those places are full of Fobbits trying to keep from being bored. Didn't see the need in them then and don't see the need in them now.
22 posted on 03/26/2010 10:55:00 AM PDT by wbarmy (I decided to be a sheepdog when I saw what happens to sheep.)
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To: Titus-Maximus

Good for Tim Hortons. Just means the line at Tim Horton’s will be longer. But i guess its better for this administration that our soldiers dollars go to a canadian franchise,..then an american franchise.


23 posted on 03/26/2010 10:55:05 AM PDT by Tulsa Ramjet ("If not now, when?" "Because it's judgment that defeats us.")
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To: Titus-Maximus

Weren’t the corporations kicking up enough money to the White House?
Command Sergeant Major Hall is one dumb SOB to make the remarks he did. McCrystal doesn’t look to good either.


24 posted on 03/26/2010 10:55:27 AM PDT by em2vn
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To: Alberta's Child

I added “as we can”. Obviously it isn’t possible to do the things that you are stating. Having fast food for the troops is a feasible and a morale booster. Are you suggesting that our countrymen at war stay at war 24/7 and should have no time for rest/eating/leisure?


25 posted on 03/26/2010 10:56:13 AM PDT by christianhomeschoolmommaof3 (Proverbs 18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding but in expressing his own heart.)
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To: Titus-Maximus

“What it comes down to is focus, and to using the resources we have in the most efficient and effective ways possible. Supplying non-essential luxuries to big bases like Bagram and Kandahar makes it harder to get essential items to combat outposts and forward operating bases, where troops who are in the fight each day need to be resupplied with ammunition, food and water.”

sounds like talking points. A Pizza Hut pizza is a luxury?


26 posted on 03/26/2010 10:56:31 AM PDT by Tulsa Ramjet ("If not now, when?" "Because it's judgment that defeats us.")
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To: Titus-Maximus

Obama did this. Do you REALLY TRULY have to ask? What they are taking away is MORALE builders. Take away the “little things” that makes being where you are a teensy bit like what GI’s call “the world”.
How the hell did we “win” WWII with the Red Cross serving coffee and donuts, with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope coming to every battle zone with their shows, and with many, many movie stars coming to say hello.
How the hell did we last in Korea, again with Bob Hope and his company, with the latest movies, even movies shown every night in the well-deck of my ship(waves permitting).
Then Bob Hope was still there in Vietnam, trying to raise the (pardon the expression) morale of the men.
It is obvious what “they” are trying to do. And there is a military command either STUPID or GUTLESS enough to go along with this.


27 posted on 03/26/2010 10:56:52 AM PDT by CaptainAmiigaf (NY TIMES: "We print the news as it fits our views")
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To: Titus-Maximus
Another article on this from last night: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2480007/posts
28 posted on 03/26/2010 10:57:53 AM PDT by Teflonic
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To: Titus-Maximus

The whippings will continue until morale improves.


29 posted on 03/26/2010 10:58:50 AM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: CaptainAmiigaf

Amen!


30 posted on 03/26/2010 10:59:02 AM PDT by christianhomeschoolmommaof3 (Proverbs 18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding but in expressing his own heart.)
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To: Alberta's Child; CaptainAmiigaf

Ping to 27


31 posted on 03/26/2010 10:59:48 AM PDT by christianhomeschoolmommaof3 (Proverbs 18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding but in expressing his own heart.)
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To: Eleven Bravo 6 319thID

Obozo is also unknowingly creating an atmosphere amongst the military where he is becoming their enemy thus fanning their suspicions about him being a subversive enemy of the Constitution. Should the situation arise where they have to remove him, they shall do so with enthusiasm.


32 posted on 03/26/2010 11:00:02 AM PDT by DarthVader (Liberalism is the politics of EVIL whose time of judgment has come. Judgment Day: Nov 2, 2010)
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To: DarthVader

I suppose you are right but it feels an awful lot like hate.


33 posted on 03/26/2010 11:00:39 AM PDT by christianhomeschoolmommaof3 (Proverbs 18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding but in expressing his own heart.)
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To: Tulsa Ramjet
I'm thinking that if this country paid less attention to "making soldiers feel a little better about where they are," then this "war" wouldn't have lasted more than twice as long as World War II.

Nothing against the soldiers, mind you. I just get the same feeling here that I get from my hockey teammates when they complain about how hard I push them on the bench and in the locker room.

34 posted on 03/26/2010 11:01:44 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Let the Eastern bastards freeze in the dark.")
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To: wbarmy
I was based in a FOB three times while over there and never saw any of those except when it came time for me to fly back to the U.S. Those places are full of Fobbits trying to keep from being bored. Didn't see the need in them then and don't see the need in them now.

Didn't go to the sandbox (I was out by then) but it was the same way in Bosnia. I was in a FOB in the middle of nowhere with jack squat for amenities, but Eagle Base in Tuzla had a Burger King and a Pizza Hut.

35 posted on 03/26/2010 11:01:47 AM PDT by Terabitten ("Don't retreat. RELOAD!!" -Sarah Palin)
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To: Tulsa Ramjet

Agree with you. Another good thing that comes of locating American companies on bases is introduction of the American culture and way of life. Of course Obammy probably finds that obnoxious. He doesn’t respect American culture.


36 posted on 03/26/2010 11:01:48 AM PDT by antceecee (Bless us Father.. have mercy on us and protect us from evil.)
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To: Titus-Maximus
"Obama did this. Why destroy morale of our troops?"

Because he hates the American Military, which he views as evil and imperialistic, and he has no plans to win the war against islam in Afghanistan. Fortunately for America, unfortunately for "commander zero", the battle in Iraq had already been won by the time he ascended to the throne.

37 posted on 03/26/2010 11:01:56 AM PDT by Eagles6 ( Typical White Guy: Christian, Constitutionalist, Heterosexual, Redneck.)
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To: Titus-Maximus
Obama did this. Why destroy morale of our troops?

Because, otherwise we might win.

38 posted on 03/26/2010 11:02:22 AM PDT by Repeat Offender (While the wicked stand confounded, call me with Thy Saints surrounded)
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To: Kennard

Sorry, I’m out of date. Tim Horton’s was spun off in 2006. It is run by Canadians, but appears to be majority-owned by U.S. investors.


39 posted on 03/26/2010 11:02:31 AM PDT by Praxeologue
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To: Alberta's Child
To tell you the truth, I was wondering why they had these things over there in the first place.

Alcohol is not allowed. The troops need some way to blow off steam and relax. Fast food joints were all the troops had left.

40 posted on 03/26/2010 11:02:33 AM PDT by Sarajevo (You're jealous because the voices only talk to me.)
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