When Troops Go Dovish

Recently, I had the odd fortune of meeting an extremely high ranking

military officer.  Under condition of anonymity he confessed, "I'm
against the Iraq war."

According to an October 9 Washington Post/ABC News Poll, 64% of Americans now disapprove of the way the President is handling the situation in Iraq.  Those numbers may not be much better inside the military.

Recently, I had the odd fortune of meeting an extremely high ranking military officer.  Under condition of anonymity he confessed, "I'm against the Iraq war.  Iraq has nothing to do with anything.  I've been there.  I know."

When asked if his views are shared by many in the military, the official lamented, "I'd say the military is about 50/50 on the war in Iraq right now."  

He explained, there are those die-hard soldiers who would support the war no matter what.  But even among those who say they support the war, a significant percentage supports it as a way of coping.  Denial is a way of coping with trauma. 

"You don't support the troops by supporting the war," said the military leader.  "You support the troops by sending them into battles worth fighting – worth dying for."

Elisted men and women aren't supposed to question their Commander-in-Chief.  For that reason, it's rare to hear candid expressions of frustration from military officials.  Yet, it seems the tide may be turning, even in the armed forces.  The Iraq War is that obviously bogus to those who have experienced it up-close-and-personal.  

I asked the official, "How do you deal with the frustration of engaging in a war you don't believe in?"

"When I put on my uniform I'm one person," he said.  "When I enter the voting booth in November, I'll be another person completely."