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Survey: Troops Believe in Iraq Mission, Morale Generally High
American Forces Press Service ^

Posted on 07/21/2006 4:00:22 PM PDT by SandRat

WASHINGTON, July 21, 2006 – Two-thirds of U.S. troops serving in Iraq say they believe the cause they're fighting for is worthwhile, according to a new Stars and Stripes survey. The survey results, reported in the July 19 Mideast edition of Stars and Stripes newspaper, revealed that 46 percent of readers in Iraq who responded to a survey called fighting the war for America "very worthwhile." Another 30 percent rated it "somewhat worthwhile."

Fourteen percent of respondents called the mission "not very worthwhile," and just 8 percent referred to it as "not worthwhile at all," the July 20 paper reported.

The survey explored readers' views on a variety of other issues. Among them were how clearly their mission is defined, their unit's as well as their personal morale, support for troops in the Middle East, and how informed they are about that support.

Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that their mission is clearly defined, the survey noted. Fifty-five percent called it "very clear" and 27 percent called it "somewhat clear." Nine percent said it's "somewhat unclear," and 7 percent said it's "not at all clear."

Unit morale is high, and personal morale even higher, most respondents said. Forty-four percent called unit morale "very high," and 43 percent gave the same ranking for their personal morale. Eighteen percent called their unit morale "somewhat high," and 30 percent ranked their personal morale at that level.

Twenty-six percent of respondents called unit morale "somewhat low," and 19 percent gave that rating for their personal morale. Ten percent reported "very low" unit morale, and 6 percent rated their personal morale at rock bottom.

The vast majority of deployed troops agreed that public support for troops in the Middle East is strong. Forty-four percent rated it "very strong," and 26 percent called it "somewhat strong." Twenty-two percent of respondents called it "not very strong," and 6 percent "weak."

Two-thirds of respondents believe they're well informed about what the public is doing to support troops serving in the Middle East, the survey showed. Forty-four percent called themselves "very well informed," 20 percent "somewhat informed," 28 percent "not very well informed," and 6 percent rated themselves "not well (informed) at all."

Responses appeared to track with military rank. Eight-eight percent of senior officers, for example, ranked both unit and personal morale as high or very high. Among junior enlisted servicemembers, 49 percent rated unit morale as high or very high and 66 percent gave that same rating to their own personal morale.

Almost across the board, respondents said conditions in Iraq had improved since they arrived there. Sixty-nine percent of senior officers, 66 percent of senior enlisted members and 64 percent of junior enlisted troops said conditions were very or somewhat improved. Forty-eight percent of junior officers assigned that rating to conditions.

Nearly 600 Stars and Stripes readers in Iraq responded to the survey, and the results were compiled by media experts from MORI Research, the newspaper reported.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: generally; high; iraq; mission; morale; oif; survey; troops
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Stars and Stripes
1 posted on 07/21/2006 4:00:24 PM PDT by SandRat
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To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...

Survey Says --- We Beleive in the Mission!


2 posted on 07/21/2006 4:01:14 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat

Thank you Rat for posting the real story, time and time again.


3 posted on 07/21/2006 4:03:14 PM PDT by pissant
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To: SandRat

Win one for the Gipper!


4 posted on 07/21/2006 4:04:08 PM PDT by no-to-illegals ('No' worked so well, perhaps another word is in order?)
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To: namsman

Ping!


5 posted on 07/21/2006 4:04:14 PM PDT by SW6906 (6 things you can't have too much of: sex, money, firewood, horsepower, guns and ammunition.)
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To: SandRat

I thank God daily for our troops. They are doing a fantastic job. Hezbollah has just proven to the world that radical islam and it's terrorism cannot be tolerated. Period.


6 posted on 07/21/2006 4:04:57 PM PDT by Pine Mtn. Maverick
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To: SandRat
Two-thirds of U.S. troops serving in Iraq say they believe the cause they're fighting for is worthwhile, according to a new Stars and Stripes survey.

... revealed that 46 percent of readers in Iraq who responded to a survey called fighting the war for America "very worthwhile."

Another 30 percent rated it "somewhat worthwhile."

46% + 30% = 76% is over three quarters....what gives?

7 posted on 07/21/2006 4:06:24 PM PDT by TheDon (The Democratic Party is the party of TREASON!)
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To: TheDon

Even the S&S has the typical MSM Presstitutes in it.

More and more the S&S makes the old OverSeas Weekly (OverSexed Weekly to some FR Vets) look like a good paper.


8 posted on 07/21/2006 4:10:50 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: TheDon

I noticed the discrepancy, too, and I don't get it either.


9 posted on 07/21/2006 4:21:14 PM PDT by spinestein (Follow "The Bronze Rule")
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To: spinestein

Bad math and editor? :^)


10 posted on 07/21/2006 4:22:44 PM PDT by TheDon (The Democratic Party is the party of TREASON!)
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To: SandRat

The latest Iraq index report shows that we are winning. Just check the progress.
http://www.brookings.edu/fp/saban/iraq/indexarchive.htm


11 posted on 07/21/2006 4:24:33 PM PDT by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: SandRat
Right now I'm printing out about 100 copies of this story and every time some pacifist goober tells me that we're screwing up Iraq or that supporting the troops means bringing them home now I'm going to shove this up... I mean show him this.
12 posted on 07/21/2006 4:24:59 PM PDT by spinestein (Follow "The Bronze Rule")
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To: spinestein
...and every time some pacifist goober tells me that we're screwing up Iraq...

Good Luck. They'll just point to the 8% and act as though THAT'S the percentage of opinion that's truly valid.

13 posted on 07/21/2006 4:31:15 PM PDT by kromike
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To: SandRat

Survey Says...... "MSM and Demagogues are full of sheep feces!!"


14 posted on 07/21/2006 4:31:55 PM PDT by Enchante (Democrats: Trust Nancy Pelosi to Win the War on Terror!! (gag))
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To: SandRat

Shouldn't that be 3/4's support it? 76%?


15 posted on 07/21/2006 4:45:11 PM PDT by Chicos_Bail_Bonds
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To: Chicos_Bail_Bonds

Lot of other Freepers think so too, but then see reply # 8 for perhaps the reason it's not reported as such.


16 posted on 07/21/2006 4:49:24 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat
"Two-thirds of U.S. troops" = 46% + 30%

BIAS or mere arithmetical INCOMPETENCE??

either way, sounds like the usual media idiocy.
17 posted on 07/21/2006 4:54:24 PM PDT by Enchante (Democrats: Trust Nancy Pelosi to Win the War on Terror!! (gag))
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To: SandRat; Coop; Just A Nobody; smoothsailing; jazusamo
High Morale ping!

This can't be true. Murtha says we must retreat!

Cut and Run Murtha

18 posted on 07/21/2006 6:05:19 PM PDT by jan in Colorado (Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum (If you wish for peace, prepare for war.))
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To: jan in Colorado
This can't be true. Murtha says we must retreat!

LOL!...That's because Murtha doesn't base his positions on facts that can be verified, he only uses unnamed sources. This is just like his "our Army is broken" and "those Marines are guilty of cold blooded murder."

19 posted on 07/21/2006 6:30:06 PM PDT by jazusamo (DIANA IREY for Congress, PA 12th District: Retire murtha.)
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To: jan in Colorado; jazusamo; SandRat; Sisku Hanne
Murtha? Please, not that backstabber of our troops.Didn't he just get the "highly acclaimed Fish Award"?

THE EDMUND S. MUSKIE CRY ME A RIVER AWARD

'OLE CUT AND RUN COULDN'T WAIT TO PUT THAT TROPHY ON HIS WALL

(Hat tip ti Sisku Hanne!)

20 posted on 07/21/2006 8:22:51 PM PDT by smoothsailing (Support The Troops-Support The Mission--Please Visit http://www.irey.com--&--Vets4Irey.com)
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