The “gravel-filled wire mesh boxes” are Hesco Barriers, and they’ve changed force protection the same way barbed wire did. http://www.hesco.com/video/TRL_double.html
The Noodle Incident is an old trope, but the trope-namer—as with all things Calvin-and-Hobbes—is the best. http://calvinandhobbes.wikia.com/wiki/Noodle_Incident
Local convoy security paying protection money to Afghani insurgents is the norm. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5327683.ece
The Capital Visitors Center: Oy vey. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/02/capitol-visitor.html
