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 ...
I’m going to withhold judgment on this one pending more information.
Everything I’ve read about Afghanistan says it is a transportation nightmare with few real roads. Most of the country is a goattrail and a prayer.
With soldiers deployed into combat, the major priority has to be the resupply and mobility of the combat and support troops in the actual fight. Every resource has to be directed to them, and if some concessionaires are indisposed, then that’s just the way it is.
If the linedogs are living on MREs, then the REMFs shouldn’t be living on champagne and caviar.
You need your head examined.
I shall reserve judgement.
Don't. McChrystal is a fool. He also forbade soldiers from attacking the enemy at night.
All "support" has to be directed toward the combat unit. And all organizations above the combat unit exist only to support the combat unit. But that not how it works out.
Amen, OldEagle.
Everything exists to support the warriors in the fight. If it’s not being done that way, then it’s not being done right.
Bullets or BurgerKings.....bullets get priority always.
I’m thinking that it is time for Robert Gates to tender his resignation. Why is Gates giving legitimacy to the Obama Regime?
“Men. I know conditions are hard right now. But win this next battle and they’ll be exactly the same!”
That should have been booster not buster. My bad.
I wonder if this is a part of Michelle’s anti-obesity campaign.
Booster not buster ... hate trying to make sense after the meds kick in. My bad.
I think part of the overall plan is to discourage people from volunteering for the military. What they really want in the long run is to bring back the draft.
Actually, Army mess hall SOS in the 70's was made from hamburger.
In the breakfast chow line you got 2 or 3 microscopically thin pieces of bacon - often poorly cooked - or 3 pieces of sausage, or unlimited SOS.
It's absolutely wonderful on scrambled eggs, assuming the unappetizing appearance doesn't fool you. It's light gray in color, that and the texture gives meaning to the phrase "dog's breakfast".
I loved it so much that I got our mess officer to give me the recipe and have made it regularly ever since. ANYBODY can cook this successfully.
1) Brown up some ground beef with salt & pepper. Pour off excess grease.
2) Lightly cover with flour. Swish the mixture around in the pan until the flour's all sticking to the meat.
3) Add milk to almost cover. Add a very light touch of garlic powder. Stir over low heat until thickened.
4) Serve over scrambled eggs, or toast.
It's a "stick to your ribs" breakfast. Don't go heavy on the garlic powder - just a hint.
Back to the topic, General McChrystal is a pinhead. Those few reminders of home are NEEDED by our troops.
I have a close relative in Afghanistan right now. I send him a USPS Priority Mail Large Box every three weeks. (I recommend the Priority Mail Large Box because it costs only $12.50 no matter the weight and he gets it in five days.) He shares with the others in his unit. All items are well received by the troops with the boots on the ground.
Naval Station Treasure Island in the 60’s still used chipped beef. We got mostly “ands” rather than “ors” on the chow line. We also had grits—first time I saw them, I thought it was cream of wheat & took a big bowl; SURPRISE! LOL
Your newer version sounds almost exactly like what we’ve used, with the addition of this & that, to put over mashed potatoes once in a while.
Using Italian sausage instead of hamburger, along with plenty of pepper & minus the garlic, makes a pretty good gravy for biscuits & gravy, another stick to the ribs breakfast.
Big enough a vat might serve to drown McChrystal.
Better. Made with butter.
“With soldiers deployed into combat, the major priority has to be the resupply and mobility of the combat and support troops in the actual fight.”
The fast food places are at Bagram (5000 Americans) and Kandahar, both of which have good roads and big runways. The FOBs and smaller don’t have fast food. At least, the two I spent time at did not.
Pizza and Burger King were a taste of home when passing thru Bagram, and I didn’t meet anyone who resented the folks there having them. For many, it was the last/first taste of home as they deployed in/out of Afghanistan.
Got no problem with Burger King. The article indicates, though, that it's taking up needed space for moving war materiel.
That could be wrong or a lie, but is what was written in the article.
If it's militarily true, then Burger King has to take a back seat for a while.
I don’t believe it is true. For one thing, food is food - it takes up a certain space, and the hamburgers the chow hall serves take up as much space as the one Burger King serves. The pizza is local stuff - it isn’t Pizza Hut pizza, regardless of what is printed on the box.
And I believe the supplies for stuff like that come in commercially by truck via Pakistan.
I agree - if it is NEEDED to move bullets, then by all means. But I don’t believe for a moment that is true. I’m CERTAIN that as of 2007, the pizza toppings were NOT flown in from the USA...
And when they get a chance to come into a big base, they should have the opportunity to enjoy better conditions than being out in the field. In order to do that, those REMF bases need a better infrastructure and amenities. Otherwise there won't be any point at all for them to come in for some downtime.
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