An interesting piece from summer 2006 on the massive military infrastructure devoted to logistical operations and how that may be hampering performance in other areas.

"I wonder how many men had to die to get that no bid contract into the hands of Dick Cheney's former company Haliburton?"

Most of our resources aren’t going to fight terrorists but to maintain a smattering of mini-Americas in the Middle East.

Isn't that the point?

I think the intent is less concern with the material comforts of the soldiers etc, than maintaining their "cultural purity" while overseas--making sure they don't need to interact with locals in anyway that's not officially structured. I've seen the same thing with US embassies, which are massive mini-America compounds completely isolated from the surrounding area and economy; everything is American and supplied directly from the US.

Sp the idea is that they don't go "native"? How Indian-fighter of them!