[DaveNP]

I used to deliver to a variety of military bases, admittedly before 9/11 but after the Mill Hill Barracks bombing, and my recollection is that the Brit bases had pretty strict security (sometimes to the point of 'jobsworth') but the Yanks only wanted to be reassured you knew where on the base to go and that you would 'have a nice day'. I've yet to be convinced that for all their gun toting hubris that the Yanks are 10% as good as the Brits in such circumstances.