A program created by the mess officer has airlifted millions of eggs, cotton, prostitutes and other coveted wartime supplies into the theater of operations from overseas -- but it isn’t clear who’s getting them and at what price, or how much private-sector partners are earning through the arrangement.
Minderbinder's “M&M Enterprises” provides transportation via the US Army Air Forces and others for supplies that the US military, and occupied civilian authorities, buy from overseas suppliers, mainly in Europe. Once a supplier’s goods arrive on the base, the companies must sell half the order in M&M-designated hotspots. They sell the rest as they see fit.
The U.S. government provides the air transportation for free, to speed the arrival of the products. The syndicate keep the profits, however large.
The Commanding Officer is seeking answers, and Captain Yossarian said "you're gonna come out rich. We're gonna come out dead" . “The American people need an explanation for how these supplies are obtained, priced, and distributed,” he said.
Milo could see more things than most people, but he could see none of them too distinctly.
...
Milo took a firm moral stand and absolutely refused to participate in the Glorious Loyalty Oath Crusade until Captain Black called upon him with his delegation and requested him to.
...
Yossarian also thought Milo was a jerk; but he also know that Milo was a genius.
...
‘Give it a chance, will you?’ Milo begged. ‘It can’t be that bad. Is it really that bad?’
‘It’s even worse.'
...
Yossarian answered him slowly in a level voice. ‘They’re burying that kid who got killed in my plane over Avignon the other day. Snowden.’
‘What happened to him?’ Milo asked in a voice deadened with awe.
‘He got killed.’
‘That’s terrible,’ Milo grieved…
...
Now, let’s see—you now have a grand total of six missions, which is damned good, Milo, damned good, really. Six missions is an increase of twenty per cent in just a couple of minutes, which is not bad at all, Milo, not back at all.”
**Context: Milo has only flown 5 missions while the other men in the squadron have flown 70. Sentences ago, Milo admitted he’s only flown 5 missions, but Colonel Cathcart insists on counting a sixth mission Milo was assigned to but didn’t fly because he was in Orvieto at the time scouting materials for his next business venture.
https://ebarrosse9291.wordpress.com/2013/06/05/my-22-favorite-quotes-from-catch-22-and-then-some/
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