Given that it's earmarked for U.S. troops, I hope there is good Point A to Point C security on everything sent.

It would definitely be in Israel's best interest to keep our troops healthy. :) Sure beats getting our grub from the French. That has irked me from day one.

It said the deal was worth " hundreds of millions of shekels annually". How much is a shekel worth in $ ?

Jeff

Right at this second,

$1.00 = 4.39 New Shekels

If i were serving in the middle east i would be picking up every "pork" MRE i could find having them every day. Bacon for breakfast, ham sandwitch for lunch, ribs for dinner. First PoW i pick up that says Allah-Akbar and spits on me i throw up on. Nothin wrong with jewish food, i enjoy food at Katz Deli on occasion myself.

This sounds a little risky to me. There is a lot of anti-American feeling in Jordan. I would feel much better if American planes were delivering American produce to the Bagdad airport and then being dessiminated by American troops TO American troops. And why can't this be done?

Its a statement. Saying that we are supporting isreal, making it real nice and clear.

Also, it probably has something to do with the "Road to Sucess" thingy.

A funni thing this. The American soldiers should be encouraged to get food from the local populace. What better way to win the hearts & minds of the locals. The American "constitution" surely could withstand the odd posioning here & there.

Doing it the other Israli way gets them a lot of Shekels but also puts us in shackles.

onlynow - Uhhhhhhhh. I don't think the Coalition troops like eatin' MREs 3x365. I've read a number of stories (via SALAM PAX for instance) about troops ordering pizza - by the dozen. In VN 30+ years ago we laughed about orderin' up the pizzachopper for an LZ delivery - never happened, but food is THE hot topic just about anytime. So. They've been buying local, including chickens (live), but just how much do you think we oughta be spendin' outta pocket for food here? This sounds like a good plan to me, unless the RonaldMc and PaPaJohn folks are plannin' InstantGratificationOutlets for Baghdad.

OBTW - I was thinkin' here - KOSHER? I don't see alotta BACON for breakfast, or HAM for supper in Mrblooperman's future. LMAO.

American fast food ought to set up temp stands to feed the troops in Iraq for free...............on second thought, they'd be better off paying for regular food over there and 'risking' poisoning. The American fast food is 'for sure' poisoning. :)

They could bring the new "Salad War" the fast food people are having now over to Iraq.
Personally, I'd rather have the fallafel.

Mmmm Roasted goat meat, pita bread, and yogurt sauce. Dont sneer till youve tried it. That and some Baklava.

Finally some good news from Israel! Those poor people are the world's pariahs. If not for all the hate and hypocrisy, Israel would do lots of great deals with the world, and would remove the financial stranglehold on their economy. Pray this is not just a rumor, and if it is true, Hail to George Bush!
sjm

It might be a stunning PR move if Israel donated food and supplies to the Iraqis, instead of the "occupation force."

It could always backfire, but I seem to recall a tremendous amount of goodwill being generated by the Israeli swift offers of aid and comfort after a major Turkish earthquake some years back.

I'm glad they are contributing fresh food to our troops. I have several good friends at the Baghdad Airport who I know will enjoy the break from MRE's. I'm sure AAFES is setting up Anthony's Pizza and Robin Hood Deli's as we speak. They gotta get their cut. As for buying from the locals, it has its limits. Have you ever seen plucked chickens hanging in the heat, covered in flies? Nasty shit.

Theresa - LMAO. That's why they buy them LIVE!

Dave, what the hell does LMAO mean?

Leaving My Arms Open.

Theresa - I must confess. It's LaughMyAssOff.

Publius has a very good point. It would at the very least "interesting" to see the reaction of the Iraqis to Israeli (Iceberg???) lettuce.

Ronin said, "Mmmm Roasted goat meat, pita bread, and yogurt sauce. Dont sneer till youve tried it. That and some Baklava."

I was traveling in Jamaica with some friends. They were so happy to see hamburgers on a local menu under 'American Food'. They all ordered burgers. I ordered 'curried goat' off of the regular part of the menu, just because it grossed the girls out. Mine was great, they all got sick. I could smell something funny when their burgers were brought to the table (of course I didn't say anything). They don't have cattle in Jamaica, but lots of goats. To an extent, I'll try to eat what the locals eat when I travel. Short of flies and stink.

Publius said, "It might be a stunning PR move if Israel donated food and supplies to the Iraqis, instead of the "occupation force."

They aren't 'donating' food to our troops, it is being paid for. I'll stop clenching my teeth now since we're not buying their food from the Stench...I mean the French, anymore. (wait...maybe I did mean stench)
You have a good point though. It's possible that would be the start of some good PR in the middle east for the Israelis. First we should teach the Iraqis the old saying, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you"

Jeff B

MMMMMM! I love curry goat, jerk chicken(unlike PtG and his ilk, who prefer to choke their chickens), roti and all that good stuff.
You are posolutely, absatively right.
Local people know local cuisine.

Hell, even here in the states, go to some of the fast food places; Most of the people in the ones in S.F. are from Asian countries where they ate local foods, and they don't even know anything about the gringo food they cook and serve HERE!