OH, THE AUSTERE and humble attitudes in a Socialist government:

The Spanish defense ministry, presided by Jose Bono, used a Spanish Air Force Hercules C-130 to pick up 23 civilian waiters in Zaragoza in order to take them to Madrid for a celebratory reception at the Army's headquarters on the day of its patron, Our Lady of Loreto. The "mission" cost €10,000.
It seems that a well-known Zaragoza restaurant's catering service is so popular at the defense ministry that no expense was spared, so three pilots, a mechanic, and a supervisor carried the 20 women and three men to Madrid for the meal for 300 persons. When it was finished, they were flown back to Zaragoza. Among those present was military chief of staff Felix Sanz Roldan.

Soldiers are unhappy about this use of an Air Force plane. One said, "Other missions, like relieving the troops in Afghanistan, are canceled because the planes are too busy." Other soldiers wondered whether there are not good catering services in Madrid or whether those soldiers who normally perform such duties are not up to the highest standards.

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