Surge Whoops in Afghanistan

Nosi · 6th April 2010, 01:18 PM

Thanks to an epic foxtrot, there is not enough food & water supplies to meet the needs of the expanding population of the U.S. military in Afghanistan. What happened was there wasn't sufficient surge of food & water to meet the surge of human bodies.

Puppycow · 6th April 2010, 11:18 PM

Perhaps the soldiers should all adopt Gen. McChrystal's spartan lifestyle and only eat once a day.

Nosi · 7th April 2010, 04:05 AM

He's (probably deceptively) frail looking!

Damien Evans · 7th April 2010, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by Nosi

Thanks to an epic foxtrot, there is not enough food & water supplies to meet the needs of the expanding population of the U.S. military in Afghanistan. What happened was there wasn't sufficient surge of food & water to meet the surge of human bodies.

I believe this is what's termed an "oops"

LTC8K6 · 7th April 2010, 08:44 AM

Bush didn't stockpile enough to cover Obama's surge?

Darth Rotor · 7th April 2010, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Nosi

Thanks to an epic foxtrot, there is not enough food & water supplies to meet the needs of the expanding population of the U.S. military in Afghanistan. What happened was there wasn't sufficient surge of food & water to meet the surge of human bodies.

Your source is unimpressive, in terms of the quality of the article, but their source seems to have a grip on how "truth on the ground" is changing.

As reported on Digital Journal:

Quote:

"Supplying non-essential luxuries to big bases like Bagram and Kandahar makes it harder to get essential items to combat outposts and forward operating bases, where troops fighting every day need to be resupplied with ammunition, food and water."

I completely agree with the General's point, closing down the silly "bring fast food to foreign lands" attitude. I never cared for that policy.

Quote:

By closing up the outlets, the FRAGO’s design is intended to free up storage space, provide secure areas for equipment, and reduce flight and convoy traffic across the country.

Yep. Fewer convoys, less exposure.

Quote:

This action may have made matters worse for soldiers who are on missions during designated chow hall times.

If the Army hasn't figured out how to flex chow hours, after eight years in country in Afghanistan, someone needs an arse chewing.

Quote:

At Camp Mike Spann some soldiers have been forced to skip up to three meals a day, and are forbidden to eat Meals Ready to Eat (MRE's) unless they are on an evening mission to save on the lack of available rations.

WTF?

This makes no sense. MRE's are what you eat when other rations aren't available. If there are not enough DOS of MREs at a given base, fix that. That still leaves the critical matter of water supply, however.

I am trying to figure out how much of that article is information, and how much garbled information.

Quote:

Digital Journal: Wow. Somebody should do something about that. Maybe call congress?
Sgt. Hill: Nah. Conservatives think we should just suck it up because we are in a war zone, and Liberals want us all to die anyway. Nobody gives a F***.

That sounds like a frustrated soldier to me.

DR

Doubt · 7th April 2010, 11:25 AM

Well, the food thing sounds generally serious. But not unmanageable. Logistics bottlenecks happen. But if troops in forward areas are not getting food and cots but troops at the big bases are, then the first place to look for problems is with who is running logistics inside the country. The forward bases are supposed to come first in priority.

Water? Now there is a sticky issue. I understand there are not a lot of local sources in country, but bottled water? Activate whatever water purification teams from the reserves you can and use what there is in country. The weight of bottled water alone would be a huge burden on the logistics system. Whatever can be developed locally should be done.

Drysdale · 7th April 2010, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by LTC8K6

Bush didn't stockpile enough to cover Obama's surge?

LOL.

Nosi · 7th April 2010, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Darth Rotor

That sounds like a frustrated soldier to me.

DR

A frustrated solder can become a very dangerous solder.

Puppycow · 7th April 2010, 06:39 PM

Now there's revolution happening in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan is one of our main supply routes into Afghanistan.

6th April 2010, 01:18 PM	#1
Nosi Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,731	Surge Whoops in Afghanistan Thanks to an epic foxtrot, there is not enough food & water supplies to meet the needs of the expanding population of the U.S. military in Afghanistan. What happened was there wasn't sufficient surge of food & water to meet the surge of human bodies.
Nosi Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,731

6th April 2010, 11:18 PM	#2
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,773	Perhaps the soldiers should all adopt Gen. McChrystal's spartan lifestyle and only eat once a day.
	__________________ “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

7th April 2010, 04:05 AM	#3
Nosi Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,731	He's (probably deceptively) frail looking!
Nosi Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,731

7th April 2010, 08:34 AM	#4
Damien Evans Up The Irons Tagger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 25,300	Originally Posted by Nosi Thanks to an epic foxtrot, there is not enough food & water supplies to meet the needs of the expanding population of the U.S. military in Afghanistan. What happened was there wasn't sufficient surge of food & water to meet the surge of human bodies. I believe this is what's termed an "oops"
	__________________ WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN? - Death "Racism is a disease in society. We're all equal. I don't care what their colour is, or religion. Just as long as they're human beings they're my buddies." - Mandawuy Yunupingu, lead singer of Yothu Yindi

7th April 2010, 08:44 AM	#5
LTC8K6 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Directly under a deadly chemtrail Posts: 12,666	Bush didn't stockpile enough to cover Obama's surge?
	__________________ What a fool believes, no wise man has the power to reason away. What seems to be, is always better than nothing. 2 prints, same midtarsal crock..., I mean break?

7th April 2010, 11:01 AM	#6
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rat cheer Posts: 34,264	Originally Posted by Nosi Thanks to an epic foxtrot, there is not enough food & water supplies to meet the needs of the expanding population of the U.S. military in Afghanistan. What happened was there wasn't sufficient surge of food & water to meet the surge of human bodies. Your source is unimpressive, in terms of the quality of the article, but their source seems to have a grip on how "truth on the ground" is changing. As reported on Digital Journal: Quote: "Supplying non-essential luxuries to big bases like Bagram and Kandahar makes it harder to get essential items to combat outposts and forward operating bases, where troops fighting every day need to be resupplied with ammunition, food and water." I completely agree with the General's point, closing down the silly "bring fast food to foreign lands" attitude. I never cared for that policy. Quote: By closing up the outlets, the FRAGO’s design is intended to free up storage space, provide secure areas for equipment, and reduce flight and convoy traffic across the country. Yep. Fewer convoys, less exposure. Quote: This action may have made matters worse for soldiers who are on missions during designated chow hall times. If the Army hasn't figured out how to flex chow hours, after eight years in country in Afghanistan, someone needs an arse chewing. Quote: At Camp Mike Spann some soldiers have been forced to skip up to three meals a day, and are forbidden to eat Meals Ready to Eat (MRE's) unless they are on an evening mission to save on the lack of available rations. WTF? This makes no sense. MRE's are what you eat when other rations aren't available. If there are not enough DOS of MREs at a given base, fix that. That still leaves the critical matter of water supply, however. I am trying to figure out how much of that article is information, and how much garbled information. Quote: Digital Journal: Wow. Somebody should do something about that. Maybe call congress? Sgt. Hill: Nah. Conservatives think we should just suck it up because we are in a war zone, and Liberals want us all to die anyway. Nobody gives a F***. That sounds like a frustrated soldier to me. DR
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis Last edited by Darth Rotor; 7th April 2010 at 11:04 AM.

7th April 2010, 11:25 AM	#7
Doubt Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 5,447	Well, the food thing sounds generally serious. But not unmanageable. Logistics bottlenecks happen. But if troops in forward areas are not getting food and cots but troops at the big bases are, then the first place to look for problems is with who is running logistics inside the country. The forward bases are supposed to come first in priority. Water? Now there is a sticky issue. I understand there are not a lot of local sources in country, but bottled water? Activate whatever water purification teams from the reserves you can and use what there is in country. The weight of bottled water alone would be a huge burden on the logistics system. Whatever can be developed locally should be done.
Doubt Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 5,447	__________________ Doubt world tour locations: Mostly home for now. No international travel scheduled other than the Galapagos trip in March. Disclaimer: Not a high energy scientist!

7th April 2010, 11:42 AM	#8
Drysdale Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,017	Originally Posted by LTC8K6 Bush didn't stockpile enough to cover Obama's surge? LOL.

7th April 2010, 01:38 PM	#9
Nosi Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,731	Originally Posted by Darth Rotor That sounds like a frustrated soldier to me. DR A frustrated solder can become a very dangerous solder.
Nosi Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,731

7th April 2010, 06:39 PM	#10
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,773	Now there's revolution happening in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan is one of our main supply routes into Afghanistan.
	__________________ “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22