The U.S. military is tightening the ol' belt in Afganistan, closing down its fast food outlets. The soldiers have enjoyed the taste of corporate-chain home, but military command has come to the determination that, um, this is war. From 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.
On any given day, the giant square-shaped walkway features the surreal sight of soldiers sipping gourmet coffee and eating chocolate pastries with guns slung across their shoulders, while Canadians play ice hockey at a nearby rink and fighter jets thunder overhead.
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...
The Canadian doughnut chain Tim Horton's will remain, and the dining halls always have "fried calamari rings, fish fingers and burgers... free for soldiers and available in abundance."
