Do "the troops" "support the troops"?

[Stinky The Clown]

I'm hoping this post will be answered by either currently active duty or recently discharged military people. My own service ended so long ago I may as well be a leftover from DubDub1.

As my wife postulates here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2112883 there's this whole strawman argument that support for the troops equates to support for The War in Iraq©.

Do the rank and file in today's military see it that way? I know the training they get and I know the way their mindset is (necessarily) skewed to support whoever is commander in chief and not to question motives. But I also know when I was in (late 60s/early 70s) there was a LOT of questioning going on. No mutinies, mind you, but a large number of my shipmates were very much in favor of antiwar candidates and supportive (at least morally) of the antiwar movement. Oh sure there was an outward 'hate the hippies' sentiment, but it was clear to me that most of the guys I was with back then were not really in favor of the debacle that was brewing in Viet Nam.

What is the sentiment in today's military?

[formernaderite]

1. if you were there in the late 60's /early 70's...we still had the draft

Yeah...those guys did bitch more. But all the military I come across are pretty far right wing anyway.

[win_in_06]

2. Think about what type of person is likely to commit to a life in the

service. They tend to support the war effort. Otherwise they would choose to make their living some other way.

[bikebloke]

3. Yesterday, at the march

There were three military guys, one wearing a *2004 T-shirt. A bit cocky. I wondered if they were looking for a fight. Of course, they're safe over here either shuffling paper or playing toy soldier for tourists.

[win_in_06]

5. If they are in the military they are subject to deployment

at any time.

[bluedawg12]

4. I hope they do.

The question is do they support our policies?