There really appears to be a strange viewpoint that says that lack of material comforts makes you "lean and mean" and thus formidable warriors immune to all hardship. In reality, poverty of conditions just makes you skinny and depressed. In reality, such soldiers just get killed or go home when they can.
By all means, troops, grab a latte, play your video games or watch a DVD in air-conditioned comfort, get a good night's rest, and then go out and kill some more of the bad guys. Their lack of comforts are tiring the bad guys out--not making them invincible.
Strategypage has my six on this one:
As generals have known for thousands of years, the troops appreciate their comforts while they are facing danger and death in the combat zone. We're not talking "the lap of luxury" here, for the comfort levels in Iraq and Afghanistan often come close to, but usually fall far short of, what the troops are used to back home. Comfort is a relative term, so if you have just spent the last twelve hours dodging bombs, bullets and bad guys in Baghdad, a good meal, a little XBox action, and an air-conditioned room to sleep in, makes all the difference when it comes to how stressed you feel the next day. That's when you probably have to go out and get shot at for another twelve hours. While it may seem manly to live in a tent, sleep in the heat, eat drab food that is quickly covered in dust, and go without the Internet and video games, this is not good for your head. At least if you are a normal person. Some people really get off on the rough life and constant stress. But there aren't too many of them, which is why the Special Forces and SEALs have such a hard time recruiting. The U.S. Army has found that, if you throw in some battlefield comforts, your average soldier can put up with a lot more combat stress. As G.I.s like to say, "whatever works."
When even Palestinians look at our fighting capabilities and are awe struck by our skills (mentioned further down in this post), why on Earth should we get worked up over air conditioning and fast food outlets?
