Pentagon Looks for Answer to Afghan Food Packets

Reuters ^ | November 16, 2001 | Reuters

[riley1992]

Pentagon Looks for Answer to Afghan Food Packets

Last Updated: November 16, 2001 07:48 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon is still searching for a new color for the food packets it is dropping over Afghanistan, but ruled out light blue because Afghans might object to a shade that dominates U.N. and Israeli flags, a defense official said on Thursday.

The hunt began when the Defense Department realized the bright yellow wrapping on the 1.5 million rectangular packages dropped over Afghanistan was similar to the color of unexploded cylinder-shaped bomblets.

The United States dropped leaflets in local languages and used radio broadcasts in Afghanistan to point out the differences between the Humanitarian Daily Ration (HDR) packages and the cluster bombs, so civilians would not mistake one for the other.

The Pentagon has not yet picked a new color for the HDRs because each one considered so far had some cultural sensitivity to it, said Joseph Collins, deputy assistant defense secretary for peacekeeping and humanitarian affairs.

The initial choice was light blue until the issue was raised that the color "looked like the U.N., looked like the Israeli flag," he said.

So it was back to the drawing board.

[riley1992]

Puce maybe?

[FITZ]

They should be bright red, white, and blue. With stripes and stars.

[Tai_Chung]

I agree......the colors of America

[riley1992]

Oh, we couldn't possibly do that. That would be akin to (gasp) Nationalism.

[Zorobabel]

Red, white and blue is too simple. No doubt the Pentagon will hire a Madison avenue ad agency for 10 million to do a marketing analysis to see what colors are most pleasing to your average starving Afghani. As if after 20 years of war, the locals can't tell the difference between a food packet and a cluster bomb.

[Fiddlstix]

I agree......the colors of America

Ditto That.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

red, white, and blue --hear, hear!!

[xJones]

Color, my foot! If people are really starving they should be grateful if the food came down packaged in ANY color.

[Revelation 911]

how about olive drab with USA in red white and blue

[box221]

Does anyone know what's in one of the food packs?

[Teacher317]

JEEZ! How long does it take to pick a new color, fer cryn' out loud! Wasn't this a story almost month ago?

Here's one 450+ post thread. They disucss what's in the packets, as well.

Looks like they have RWB, yellow, and paper-bag-brown already.

[jackbill]

How long does it take to pick a new color, fer cryn' out loud! Wasn't this a story almost month ago?

What you are witnessing is a typical example of government bureaucracy. Your tax dollars at work.

[nothingnew]

Color, my foot! If people are really starving they should be grateful if the food came down packaged in ANY color.

Ditto that!...What a bunch of BS....The color may offend?...then eat sh*t and bark at the moon, you dogs!

FMCDH