Comments for News from our Man in the 'Stan!

News from our Man in the 'Stan!

2007-09-02T14:21:49Z

An activity for the Labor Day weekend! Our landlocked Sailor emails from the Fobbiton:

The job of an officer is to make tough decisions, that’s what the pay and privileges are for. You never know when or where the hard ones are going to come your way. You can only pray that your training and experiences make you ready for it when it comes, as it comes for us all.
For a NATO staff officer in Afghanistan . It comes like this.

Joe

Now this is a hard choice. A very tough choice, and, quite possibly, the success of the mission rests in the balance.

So, drop below the fold, into the Flash Traffic/Extended Entry, and see what Joe has to deal with... quite possibly on a daily basis.

So, click on the "Flash Traffic" link below...

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Your job? Help Joe decide.

Make your choices, and offer your reasoning.

You - yes, you! Could directly affect the course of the war in Afghanistan.

A weighty responsibility. Don't assume the duty lightly.

Comment from Navig8r on 2007-09-04

2007-09-04T21:16:26Z

I have it from Aussie authority that Fosters is not fit to drink. They brew it for export to commercial-watching Americans, only!

Comment from MMarty on 2007-09-04

2007-09-04T16:53:20Z

The swabbie's drinking in the wrong place. Any decent slop chute would have to have some Yankie beer.

Comment from Tall Chick on 2007-09-04

2007-09-04T15:45:30Z

None of the above. Even good beer tastes bad out of a can.

Comment from Eagle1 on 2007-09-04

2007-09-04T13:03:29Z

Judging by the open tab on the Foster's can, someone made a decision...

Comment from James S. on 2007-09-03

2007-09-04T02:31:13Z

Don't drink the stuff in the white can! We had it while I was in Khandahar in '02. It's horrible! I've had German beer (Good!), American Beer (Meh), and Korean Beer (blech), but that Belgian crap in the white can is the worst beer I've ever had!

Comment from Instapilot on 2007-09-03

2007-09-03T22:34:53Z

What? No Weed? (Those who know, know.) Instapilot

Comment from Al Maviva on 2007-09-03

2007-09-03T21:57:05Z

Ahh yes, the difference between an NCO and an officer. The oficer wonders "which one," or if he is a Good Officer, "which one first, and which should I share with my NCOs?" If he is a Really Good Officer he first asks the NCOs for input on the decision. The Good NCO, meanwhile, would know instinctively which one to drink, and in the time it takes to ask this question would finish all four, a second and a third round, have a few more with some passing Australians, get kissed by some random girl, and would by now be looking for a couple shots to help wash a little snack down. A snack comprised of two or three more beers, of course. The Good Junior Enlisted Man, in contrast, didn't ask, drank whatever he could get his hands on with whomever was there, booted, rallied, drank some more, and is already on Post Detail as minor NCO punishment for throwing up on the Sergeant Major's neatly painted rocks, which, coincidentally, the Good Junior Enlisted Man painted and arranged in a neat circle 'round the flagpole on a prior Post Detail.

Comment from Steve Schippert on 2007-09-03

2007-09-03T21:09:06Z

Too bad Joe doesn't have a Zywiec to choose. Tough call. I'd have to drink both and be happy about the conundrum on several levels.

Comment from Steve Schippert on 2007-09-03

2007-09-03T21:03:51Z

Joe's surely being polite in his ponderance. Smelly sailors, airmen, soldiers and Marines in the field most assuredly do not drink the ever-evasive beer for flavor. (Some skilled military patrons perfect this approach at home, as well.) While Smith's, Stella and Beck's are all fine (though somewhat tamed) brews, they are alas each European. And, particularly in Afghanistan, most (though not all) Europeans leave us, militarily speaking, somewhat 'flat.' Based on Basra alone, Smith's is sadly out, which is a shame because it's a fine choice otherwise. But the clear choice should be Foster's, even warm, from our unwavering Aussie allies. It's perhaps a small nod (or rebuke), but a required one at that.

Comment from Lucius Vorenus on 2007-09-03

2007-09-03T20:31:43Z

A) the UK has been our best ally Gosh, I hate to rain on what has been a pretty happy parade up until now, but there is a deeply disturbing new story making the rounds today: 'Brown and Bush haven't spoken for five weeks'

Comment from spydrz on 2007-09-03

2007-09-03T20:07:24Z

Beck's!

Comment from CDR Salamander on 2007-09-03

2007-09-03T19:49:09Z

Stella is Belgian! Tigerhawk looses both JMPE I AND has to do his Beer PQS all over again.

Comment from BillT on 2007-09-02

2007-09-03T00:35:02Z

If there are any Aussies in the 'hood, try to score some Victoria Bitter!

Comment from Assistant Village Idiot on 2007-09-02

2007-09-02T23:45:02Z

The John Smith's is a best bitters, and deserves pride of place because A) the UK has been our best ally and B) it tastes better. I don't like Foster's, myself. Just be glad our allies the Romanians aren't supplying. Both Ciuc and Ursus are terrible.

Comment from Papa Ray on 2007-09-02

2007-09-02T22:51:55Z

Us rednecks don't worry about small decisions like this. But if it makes it easier, go for the simple solution. Hide them all from your buds, drink them one at a time disguised in your canteen as water. And who cares if they are cold? Papa Ray West Texas USA

Comment from Lloyd on 2007-09-02

2007-09-02T22:28:24Z

Not Foster's. As an Aussie friend once told me, "We export Foster's so WE don't have to drink it!"

Comment from GreenmanTim on 2007-09-02

2007-09-02T21:53:04Z

They are much better cold, Joe. Get four clean socks, soak in water, put one can in each, and hang out in that desert air until evaporative cooling works its magic. Don't tell me only Marines know this trick!

Comment from UN Observer on 2007-09-02

2007-09-02T19:44:38Z

ONLY FOUR???!!!! What a wimp.

Comment from TigerHawk on 2007-09-02

2007-09-02T19:15:08Z

I love a good pilsner and Beck's is very good, but I switched to Pilsner Urquel when I committed to drink only "Coalition of the Willing" beverages back in 2003. The Merkel government has been cool enough, though, that Beck's is back on the list. The Belgians still aren't there, though. So, Beck's first. After that it really doesn't matter.

Comment from Grim on 2007-09-02

2007-09-02T18:43:35Z

I trust the decision being made is, "Which of these shall I drink first?"

Comment from kat-missouri on 2007-09-02

2007-09-02T18:24:38Z

Foster's

Comment from BillT on 2007-09-02

2007-09-02T15:30:19Z

There are some decisions all the military schooling in the world can't prepare you for; that's why you're making that big non-com dust, Joe. Meantime, you've reminded me of the existence of beer. If they ever put extended-range tanks on these Cobras, there won't be any decision-making necessary on your part. Except for whether to toss the empties as they're produced or wait until I'm finished...