As I read your comments, and they are indeed excellent remarks it gave me pause.
I am not sure, if given the chance I would try and produce a show such as this. I say that because, WAR IS HELL. There are SOP (standard operating procedures) but sometimes SNAFUS (will not translate that one) and it would be hard to really convey that in a drama series.
Having said that, I agree I thought it to be balanced. Of course I wonder, how will next weeks offering be? While I am a tough critic will the audience return for the story or the character's or both.
I have to say about the beer, I do not recall Dave having beer while he was there, did not ask him. But, boy did he look svelte after he returned not having the enjoyable beer as he watches his beloved Orioles.
The beer may just be a symbol for something they want but can't get. (I realize that alcohol is taboo in Islamic countries but I thought I read that our troops create a warmer image within the confines of our bases. So,yes, I don't know about beer. But the risk and exposure of our convoys is well known.
I agree with you about the difficulty of producing a war series, (and producers could bias it both ways). I will watch some more episodes, but I will not watch any show that demeans our guys over there or our political motivation over here. Shows like the "highly fictional" JAG were good because they dramatized events that we were reading about. If this show wants to take on that task, knowing that their audience have friends, relatives, and countrymen over there, they had better bend over backwards to be fair. If they also want to show the risks, environment, and political conditions that lead to the decisions that are being made, maybe this will turn up the heat on our leaders to wage this war in the only way wars should be waged... to win and win with the least injury to our side as possible.