Posted 12/26/2004 10:24 PM Updated 12/26/2004 11:31 PM
Poll shows troops in support of war
By Robert Hodierne, Army Times
Despite a year of ferocious combat, mounting casualties and frequent
deployments, support for the war in Iraq remains very high among the
active-duty military, according to a Military Times Poll.
Sixty-three percent of respondents approve of the way President Bush is
handling the war, and 60% remain convinced it is a war worth fighting. Support
for the war is even greater among those who have served longest in the combat
zone: Two-thirds of combat vets say the war is worth fighting.
But the men and women in uniform are under no illusions about how long they
will be fighting in Iraq; nearly half say they expect to be there more than
five years.
In addition, 87%% say they're satisfied with their jobs and, if given the
choice today, only 25% say they'd leave the service.
Compared with last year, the percentages for support for the war and job
satisfaction remain essentially unchanged.
A year ago, 77% said they thought the military was stretched too thin to be
effective. This year, that number shrank to 66%.
The findings are part of the annual Military Times Poll, which this year
included 1,423 active-duty subscribers to Air Force Times, Army Times, Navy
Times and Marine Corps Times.
The subscribers were randomly surveyed by mail in late November and early
December. The poll has a margin of error of +/—2.6%.
Among the poll's other findings:
• 75% oppose a military draft.
• 60% blame Congress for the shortage of body armor in the combat zone.
• 12% say civilian Pentagon policymakers should be held accountable for abuse
at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
Contributing: The independent Military Times Media Group consists of four
newspapers published by Gannett
.
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