Posted on 04/06/2010 8:00:33 PM PDT by Cheap_Hessian
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Fast food joints where soldiers wolf down burgers and pizza will soon be a thing of the past at bases in Afghanistan, as the U.S. military reminds soldiers they are at war and not in "an amusement park."
In the sprawling military base at Kandahar, the fast food outlets facing the axe include Burger King, Pizza Hut, and the U.S. chain restaurant T.G.I. Friday's that features a bar with alcohol-free margaritas and other drinks -- all set along the bustling "Boardwalk" area of the base.
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The U.S. military says its beef with the burger joints is that they take up valuable resources like water, power, flight and convoy space and that cutting back on non-essentials is key to running an efficient military operation.
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Warning that concessions like Orange Julius, Dairy Queen and Military Car Sales were also on the exit list, Hall said less-obvious changes were coming too -- including fewer canned and bottled goods coming into the country as well as fewer first-run movie showings and some entertainment programs.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The floggings will continue until morale improves.
I stand corrected on my previous post.
It’s not coming from the Command Sgt. Major, but General McCrystal. Though the sentiment remains - directed at the ISAF General.
I love that stuff. Every time it goes on sale, I’m there!
Roger that
The only thing I will say, is that the staff people at HQ get to enjoy these things, while most of the troops in the field never see them.
I wouldn’t deny the troops these things, but we do need to do more for the grunts out in the dirt.
By the way..my Dad nearly lost his feet to frost bite before the Battle of the Bulge. No dry socks were available pinned down by German fire. Fortunately, he was evacuated because there was an empty space on a med evac DC-3..the day before the Bulge.
Problem I find with the infantry and others is that they can’t seem to differentiate between the pogues and those whose skills are too d@mn valuable to send out on convoys and raids.
Intel and medical for example. If you send the intel guys out, then you’ve just gouged out your eyes and burned out your ears... for you no longer have anyone looking to find the enemy we’re supposed to be fighting.
And medical... well, if their sent out, whose going to be there to patch you up if you’re hurt?
I seriously doubt the Kenyan IS behind this, but . . . .
That was certainly my husband's thought - that he made McChrystal take the heat for something he saw and thought excessive and "unfair" to the troops at the front.
Hubby was in Kuwait for a few months at one of the stopping points for coming and going to Iraq. The ones heading into battle and those returning LOVED the better facilities and the taste of home. Removing it doesn't make it "fair" for all of them, it makes it "unfair" for all of them. The contractors won't go open one out where they will only get minimal business and take the larger chances of getting blown up.
As always the liberal mindset is to bring everybody DOWN to the same level.
From what I understand, mostly Airdales and supply, although my son doesn’t say much.
>>It’s not coming from the Command Sgt. Major, but General McCrystal. Though the sentiment remains - directed at the ISAF General.<<
Bad is bad, no matter its implementer.
And we know this comes from ayers and soros, through the *shudder* CiC.
You think they might mistake Afghanistan for an amusement park?
Really?
The U.S. military says its beef with the burger joints is that they take up valuable resources like water, power, flight and convoy space
Does the army chow hall not consume the same water, power, flight, and convoy space?
Please, as soon as we get a real president, can we not get a real commander on the ground there?
That’s good psychological warfare. You know if the enemy ends up drinking cokes and eatin’ Big Macs - we’ve won.
You’re right! AND add the following: “Nothing is too good for the troops and nothing is what they get!”
I recall getting a pep talk from the Commandant while we were in Babylon. They gave him a Gold Plated AK that had been found in one of the palaces. He told us how great it was to kill the enemy and take their weapons, and you could just see all the assembled Marines thinking “Well, General, if we try to take a weapon home it’s the brig for us”. Not a big applause line.
IRRC there was also a joke about beer that didn’t go over too well.
While I can see the merit of General McChrystal keeping the tooth to tail ratio reasonable, I also have little faith in the ability of Generals to understand what the folks at the little end of the chain of command are thinking and feeling.
Is it as good as military grade? I always liked it, and my mother would make it as a treat for my dad several times a year; not just camping/hunting trips.
“Time to up the supplies via the FReeper canteen.
Contact Kathyinalaska.”
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Yep. Hope she has a link or something so we noobs know how we can send to the troops.
I beg to differ. When I was overseas, we would go over 80 miles one way to hit a McDonald’s.
I’m telling you there is nothing better to boost morale than that first bite into a Quarter Pounder with cheese and the pickle crunches just a little and mixes with the catsup, mustard and onions...
Memories of of home, friends and family flood with the juice and reminds you of just exactly why you are there and what you are fighting for.
I just made my mouth water and my heart swell.
God Bless our Troops.
I know the troops like getting care packages fom home. Maybe the brass shouldn’t “allow” them either.
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