DJ, I apologize. I assumed when you said military you meant on base. Of the friends that I have on base, many are looking forward to going home. None of them have taken the opportunity to learn the culture and language even though the base provides this service.

I never claimed to know everything about military assignments. I am aware of military having presence in many dangerous places. But the entire world isn't out to take down the US nor its embassies or bases.

I've had the chance to live in some of these "hardship" places. Not as military but a regular guy working for an NGO. In almost all cases I was the only American for hundreds miles. I wasn't provided a fenced compound or armed guards. I was lucky to get a mosquito net.

And, based on my experience, if your friend got a chunk of bloody meat she's lucky. That meat is fresh and delicious, and the animal it came from was probably healthy. And most of the world prefers their meat that way.