"Career soldiers solute Bush"
Published December 28, 2004
A Military Times Poll found that almost 66% of active duty U.S. soldiers approve of Bush's handling of the situation, and 73% believe Washington is ''very'' or ''somewhat likely'' to succeed in Iraq.
- 60% of military respondents said Bush was right to invade Iraq
- 66% agreed or strongly that the military was stretched ''too thin to be effective''
- 75% of respondents opposed a draft, (the quality of service members would decline)
- 63% of men said they believed that Washington was right to invade Iraq
- 42% of women agreed with the invasion
- 66% said the officers in direct command of the prison should be targeted
- 21% said punishment should also be handed out against ''higher-level military commanders"
- 12% said ''civilian policymakers at the Pentagon'' should be disciplined
- 10% said no one should be punished at all
- 3% held Bush responsible
- 60% blamed Congress
- 49% blamed the senior military leadership,
- 35% named the administration
- 44% said media had ''somewhat'' or ''very'' unfavorable views of the military
- 37% said the media should not publish stories that suggest the war is not going well and that the military itself should decide whether such articles should be printed or broadcast
- "Career soldiers solute Bush"
- Published: December 28, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Politics
- Writer: Igor Volsky
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All that most career Solders want is a target, good rifle, and clear line of fire. IOW, tell us the mission, give us the equipment, and get out of our way.
Very informative, thanks for the post. BTW, it's "salute".
Appropriate to this topic, active duty Army units, mine included, have had remarkably high reenlistments amongst those that are deployed or who have returned from deployment to the ME. IF they didn't believe in the mission and the military as a whole, it's hard to believe they would voluntarily stay in past their term of service.
I think the reenlistment rate - even higher than Bush's poll ratings - is a much more reliable indicator of approval. You can argue that when you're in the military you sort of feel obligated to support the CinC. But if you were secretly unhappy would you reenlist?
Dave
"But if you were secretly unhappy would you reenlist?"
Some will try to wait it out--Presidents have to leave sometime. Many won't be so patient. Others may stay for what may seem stupid reasons--I know quite a few who stayed a little bit longer just so they would not have Clinton's name on their retirement orders. But for the most part, if you are not happy, you won't stay.
Especially when staying in almost guarantees one a return trip to the combat zone.
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this truly shows that even with the anti-military anti republican media that most of our armed forces support what they are doing and there has never been a war that has had full millitar support. all these people who say support our troops bring them home are not supporting the will of the people.