(Air Force Times) Backtalk: Wary, but willing

[unhappycamper]

Wary, but willing
Robert F. Dorr

When we inaugurate Barack Obama as our 44th president, we needn’t worry about statistics that imply a troubled relationship between military people and their commander in chief.

Two weeks ago, this newspaper reported that six out of 10 active-duty subscribers say they’re uncertain or pessimistic about the new boss.

A Military Times poll showed that 49 percent of them feel that President George W. Bush has their best interests at heart, while only 36 percent believe Obama does.

Fully 49 percent of Military Times subscribers — a group that is older and less diverse and includes more officers than the military as a whole — disapprove of Obama’s calls to withdraw combat brigades from Iraq within 16 months, while only 34 percent approve.

A staggering 58 percent of participating subscribers oppose Obama’s calls to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy toward gays. The attitude toward homosexuality appears to be where civilians and military folks have the widest divergence. Poll after poll demonstrates that in the civilian world, nobody cares much about sexual orientation.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/community/opinion/airforce_backtalk_obama_011909/%2e