Core77

In Generation Kill, HBO's well-executed adaptation of Evan Wright's Iraq tell-all, the hapless 1st Recon Marines are used to doing without: they lack batteries for their night-vision goggles, lubricant for their constantly-jamming machine guns, gaskets for their HumVee engines, and they are provided with the wrong color of camouflage--Forest Green in a desert environment. Even worse, their sole interpreter seems more interested in drinking beer than providing accurate translations. "You want logistics, join the Army," grunts an embattled Lieutenant Fick. "Marines make do."

As for those Army logistics: Last year the U.S. Army spent $800,000 on 260 iPods for their 10th Mountain Division. Yes, iPods. You may be wondering, what the heck drives the cost of a single iPod to $3,076.92? They're not for rocking out with tunes--they're all outfitted with special VCommunicator Mobile Iraqi Arabic translation software, external speakers, and an undisclosed amount of solar chargers to juice them up. How's that for "thinking different."

via strategy page