READER PAUL SHELTON has an observation about the troop morale story that we’re hearing so much about:
an interesting little paragraph that I didn’t hear about:
Uncertainty about when they are returning home was a major factor in dampening morale, according to the newspaper. The interviews were conducted at a time when some reserve and regular Army units were learning that their tours had been extended. The Pentagon has since sought to provide a clearer rotation plan and has begun granting troops two-week home leaves.
Interesting. And if you took this “unscientific” poll AFTER they were told about their rotation, wouldn’t it be completely different?
Maybe. Who knows? That’s the problem with “unscientific” polls. It’s certainly true that troop rotation policies need to be clear — as clear as possible in the face of uncertain events, anyway — and it’s also clear, as was discussed on InstaPundit two years ago (here and here) that the Pentagon has paid attention to lessons from the past in this area. I hope that they’ll continue to refine their approach, as needed, and I expect that they will.