According to a woman I met, whose son is serving in Iraq, all mail sent to our troops religious or secular, is sitting in warehouses.   The United States Government employs a private contractor to deliver the mail. They aren't doing the job, and letters, packages etc. are being warehoused, OR RETURNED TO THE LOVED ONES WHO SENT THEM! for the sakd of the company's bottom line.

We did something similar in the Civil War, and wound up with uniforms that fell apart in the rain. You'd think someone at the Pentagon would know that!

By the way, if you will read Katherine Briggs "British Folktales", you'll find the "Pack of Cards" set in the English Civil Wars.