Americans divided over decision to withdraw from Syria
Overall, 43% of Americans say withdrawing American troops from Syria would be the right decision, while 45% say it would not.
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Overall, 43% of Americans say withdrawing American troops from Syria would be the right decision, while 45% say it would not.
About half of U.S. adults say the country’s mission in Afghanistan has mostly failed in achieving its goals, while about a third say it has mostly succeeded.
Large majorities in eight Western European countries trust the military, ranging from 84% in France to 66% in Spain. Similarly, eight-in-ten Americans have confidence in the military.
The number of active-duty U.S. military troops stationed overseas has dipped below 200,000 for the first time in at least 60 years.
John Kelly is the first chief of staff in more than four decades to come from the upper ranks of the military, and unlike most of his predecessors he has no prior work experience in the White House or campaign politics.
The demographic makeup of the country’s active-duty force has changed over time, and those changes tend to reflect trends in the broader society.
At least four secretaries of state previously worked as top executives for large private-sector companies.
The share of the population with military experience – counting those who are on active duty or were in the past – has fallen by almost half since 1980.
Three-quarters or more of Americans are confident in the military, medical scientists and scientists in general to act in the best interests of the public. But fewer than half report similar confidence in the news media, business leaders and elected officials.
About half of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans (47%) said that they served with a comrade that had been killed. That number rises to 62% among soldiers who were in combat.
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