Poll: 1 in 3 vets sees Iraq, Afghan wars as wastes

[The Straight Story]

Poll: 1 in 3 vets sees Iraq, Afghan wars as wastes

WASHINGTON (AP) -- One in three U.S. veterans of the post-9/11 military believes the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were not worth fighting, and a majority think that after 10 years of combat America should be focusing less on foreign affairs and more on its own problems, according to an opinion survey released Wednesday.

The findings highlight a dilemma for the Obama administration and Congress as they struggle to shrink the government's huge budget deficits and reconsider defense priorities while trying to keep public support for remaining involved in Iraq and Afghanistan for the longer term.

Nearly 4,500 U.S. troops have died in Iraq and about 1,700 in Afghanistan. Combined war costs since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have topped $1 trillion.

The poll results presented by the Pew Research Center portray post-9/11 veterans as proud of their work, scarred by warfare and convinced that the American public has little understanding of the problems that wartime service has created for military members and their families.

The survey also showed that post-9/11 veterans are more likely than Americans as a whole to call themselves Republicans and to disapprove of President Barack Obama's performance as commander in chief. They also are more likely than earlier generations of veterans to have no religious affiliation.

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/U/US_MILITARY_POLL?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Arctic Dave]

1. Duh.

I tried to tell them that when they first started them. Especially Iraq.

[whoohoo24]

2. Another reason to end the wars!

[Bigmack]

3. Wait a few years and it will be 3/3... nt

[ThomWV]

4. Not until their parents and families see the war as a waste will it end.

The thoughts of soldiers are meaningless for the most part. They are cannon-fodder, no more and no less. No politician has ever been known to pay attention to anyone in the military who had less than three stars on their collar. That war will not end until the people back home demand it end, and as long as the parents of soldiers see something nobel in their children's warfare the war will continue.