A 19 year old private makes a statement saying "THE AMERICANS SEEM TO HAVE RUINED IT", which perfectly reflects the general British attitude toward American troops in Iraq.
He feels perfectly comfortable saying this to a journalist because he knows that almost everyone reading the quote will agree with him and that he will catch no $hit from his officers, since they also agree with him. In fact, he probably learned it from his officers.
Then your Military would not need the fig leave and you still haven’t explained what you meant by an election.
PS I have total respect for the American military and a stint in them will do you the world of good.