"It’s a complete scandal! It beggars belief! Those are citizens serving in the uniform of the United States! Our own armed forces!" Bambakias drew a swift breath, and grew yet more intense and sonorous. "How on earth can we expect to command the loyalties of the men and women who are sworn to defend our country, when we cynically use them as pawns in a cheap, sordid power struggle? We’ve literally abandoned them to starve to death, freezing in the dark!"