In Infantry, it breeds camaraderie.

And camaraderie breeds communication.

You have a closed unit with little to no outside contact (i.e., language barrier between civilian and military, which would not intermingle anyway). Along comes an English speaking Westerner with a microphone.

Hey, someone new to speak with. Someone accustomed to asking the right questions for the right responses, and digging to get the right words to from the interviewee to -- embellish the topic of discussion. ...To sensationalize the story.

Sure, “Enquiring minds need to know”, but editors need that hyperbole to sell papers. Another GI killed in action? That’s old news. Time to dig up something new -- even if it’s not.

Sure there's a lot to gripe about, and sure they will gripe. They miss home, and many of the Reservists, particularly with family to think about, may miss their previous incomes. Well, we're at war, and they signed up. Their stay is hazardous, uncomfortable, and generally boring as hell. However, it is nowhere near overextended.

These are good, albeit complaining, troops. Let me know when the riot act is read.

Dan