Posted on 10/16/2004 8:36:22 AM PDT by Ginifer
Members of the US military and their families say the Bush administration underestimated the number of troops needed in Iraq and put too much pressure on inadequately trained National Guard and reserve forces, according to a poll released today.
The National Annenberg Election Survey found that 62% in the military sample said the administration didn’t send an adequate number of troops to Iraq.
And 59% said too much of a burden has been put on the National Guard and the reserves when regular forces should have been expanded instead.
Family members were more critical of the administration’s Iraq policy than those on active duty.
This critical view comes from a military group that has a more favourable view of President George W Bush, Iraq, the economy and the nation’s direction than Americans in general.
A slight majority of the military and families, 51%, said showing photos of flag-draped coffins being returned to the United States would increase respect for the troops.
The Pentagon has refused to release government photos of the coffins, saying it has begun enforcing a policy installed in 1991 intended to respect the privacy of the families of the dead soldiers.
On other military matters:
:: 42% said gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military, and 50% said no.
:: 25% said the military draft should be reinstated, 75% said no. That is about the same level of opposition to the draft in the general population.
:: 60% of the regular military in the sample said they were properly trained and equipped.
:: 40% of the Guard members and reservists questioned said they were properly trained and equipped.
:: The military sample overwhelmingly approved of the work of women in the armed forces. 75% said they performed as well as the men they work with.
:: 80% said soldiers responsible for the Abu Ghraib prison abuse and their immediate commanders should be punished. Half said higher-level commanders should be punished and 30% said civilians in the Pentagon should be punished.
The poll of 655 in the active military (both regulars and reserves) and their families was taken between September 22 and October 5.
It's hard to explain to family members that you have to be deployed and must do your part to protect America. I've know plenty of families who have an active duty member and they just don't understand that you go where your country sends you. If you come from a long line of military members then those families understand the commitment and sacrifice of being in the military.
Its too bad they can't directly poll them on their preference for President. Well, maybe that's a good thing for govt bodies to not ask that.
I wish pollsters like Gallup would poll them more.
the only thig i didnt see in this article was president 70 to 25 support compared to jk
i guess 4 months does not a year make
ciao
w2004
Hmmm.
And this "poll" is released a day after another poll by the Military Times shows the military voting for Bush at a rate of 75% or better.
Do you think "timing" had anything to do with this poll?
This story was first broadcast by AP. That should tell you something as to its veracity. AP, along with the four MSM networks are part of what Rush calls "The Kerry Campaign Transcription Service."
Retired Gen. Tommy Franks and others have addressed this allegation and knocked it into a cocked hat. Why would any FREEPER help perpetuate this malarkey by republishing it.........unless they, too, are acting as part of the Kerry Campaign Transcription Service.
We know!
He hates the elderly, women, and children too!
Tell these "families" to get a uniform on and get some rank and then they can lecture the Military and the Bush Admin about "Troop Levels"!
The military was prepared and trained enough to take down Baghdad in record time.
Is it fair to say they were understaffed and undertrained yet 75% oppose a draft? I saw the documentary on the Discovery channel titled 'Off to War'. Those NG guys weren't too happy about being deployed for the first rotation.. what makes anyone thing they will accept more rotations without complaint?
We've always made misjudgements in war. Normandy, although successful, was victim to miscalculated shelling and bombing to prepare the shores for safe landing. The Sherman's weren't equipped to overcome the hedges so they improvised and took shore obstacles and welded them to the fronts of the tanks so they could drive through them. The new and improved air superiority fighter, the F-4, was poorly equipped to fight MiG's in close range combat. They later had to add a cannon.
See a pattern? In the face of challenge, our boys have always overcome anything in their path to success. They always complete the mission... That is, unless some asshat like Kerry steps in and in treasonous fasion assists in the failure of the mission.
This reminds me of people who focused too much on body armor and armor plating when even those whom had it were being blown to pieces when an IED hit. Those items work in real combat environments, but not against an enemy that fights like cowards.
Make no mistake in judgement, our forces will accomplish their mission. Our soldiers and Marines are the best of the best even at their worst.
"War is a series of catastrophes resulting in victory." - Clemenceau
http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/naes/survey_team.htm
Check the third name down.. Recall what Bush said about this individual and do a search here on Adam Clymer
You needed to add CLYMER ALERT to the title.
Yes, that Adam Clymer.
He's working at the leftist Annanberg Institute now.
4 percent of service members complained about frequent deployments, 5 per cent of family. Insignificant, meaningless.
Indeed!
Well, not in the case of the French.
As true as the quote is, yes the source of it is ironic.
My other favorite Clemenceauism is: "Military justice is to justice as military music is to music." Zot! Not an especially nice man, but a deft touch with le mot juste.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.