Starbucks in Iraq

I trust Silence to carry all the Halliburton-bashing around here. I am fine with the bidding process, the so-called overcharging for gasoline is somewhere between small and nothing -- but serving bad coffee to our valiant troops? CHENEY MUST DIE!!!!

Seriously, folks, the troops have complained about the Joe, I can't blame them:

The military supply system uses Maxwell House and Taster's Choice, and Halliburton says it's brewed according to Army guidelines, with no option to pick a different "brand, grind type or roast variety."

Thankfully, Roasters are riding to the rescue. Starbucks has announced a 50,000 pound donation.
WaPo reports:

Lattes in Fallujah? Some GIs in Iraq, distraught over the quality of military coffee, keep clamoring for stronger java than that served by Halliburton. Never one to miss a brand-development opportunity, Starbucks CEO Jim Donald came to Capitol Hill this week to announce that the Seattle-based coffee giant will donate 50,000 pounds of beans for overseas troops, with distribution handled by the Red Cross. Much smaller outfits -- including Just Plain Joe Coffee of Stevensville, Md., Santa Lucia Estate Coffee of Potomac and Dean's Beans in Massachusetts -- have been donating coffee to military personnel in Iraq for months.

The Red Cross and Starbucks, whose employees previously made smaller donations, believe the new program will boost morale. "It's great to see," says Jodi Lehr, partner in Santa Lucia Estate, adding, "They are following the cue of the small growers and roasters."
[...]
But Starbucks's massive donation may position it to penetrate the complex procurement system. "They ought to be buying Starbucks," Dicks says, while recognizing his suggestion isn't likely to percolate quickly through the bureaucracy. Maybe by next Veterans Day.

Thanks to all who serve, and a hooo-rah and an ooo-gah to the roasters who are stepping up. I raise my super-dry-breve-half-caf-cappucino to you!

Hat-tip: Dynamist

Posted by jk at November 12, 2004 10:42 AM