As a child, I found it confusing that the cobra commandos would work out with their masks on and their shirts off. In retrospect, being trapped at the South Pole with no women can change a man.
There'd only be outrage if their operation yielded no results. In this instance, every misinterpreted phone message led to a legitimate Cobra operation. They got results, so I don't see why they would get any sort of serious reprimand.
My grandfather used to tell the joke this episode was based on. but instead of a GI Joe fire fighter the main character was an old woman who lived by herself.
The Viper's usual M.O. is to disguise himself as day laborer and talk to his victims in a comedy accent. This usually buys him enough time for the laughing gas to spread over the entire target area...
I think this was one of the only GI Joe eps I ever watched all the way through. I'd heard a similar gag on Dr. Demento and found myself thinking "Are they really going to use that punchline? Oh. Heh."