In the wake of the Paris attacks, a majority of young Americans support sending U.S. ground troops to fight ISIS, according to a wide-ranging new poll from the Harvard Institute of Politics.
The institute has asked millennials about the idea of American boots on the ground at three different times this year, and the survey results have fluctuated somewhat, but there seems to be a “hardening of support.”
In this most recent survey, 60 percent of the 18- to 29-year-olds polled say they support committing U.S. combat troops to fight ISIS. But an almost equal number (62 percent) say they wouldn’t want to personally join the fight, even if the U.S. needed additional troops.
The disconnect in joining the fight comes down to how millennials feel about the government writ large, according to Harvard IOP Polling Director John Della Volpe.
“I’m reminded of the significant degree of distrust that this generation has about all things related to government,” said Della Volpe. “And I believe if young people had a better relationship with government … they’d be more open to serving.”
Yesterday, Wolve slapped down information on this subject–that millennials by about a 60-40 spread wanted the US to commit troops to combatting ISIS. That seemed strange coming from young people. Millennials make up more than 1 in 3 workers in the US work force and are defined as having ages ranging from 18 to 34 in 2015.
The big caveat seems to be that these millennials are all too willing to commit troops to fight ISIS, boots on the ground, unless those boots are THEIR boots. Then the trend switches to about 80-20 % (figure heard this morning on MSNBC) against boots on the ground intervention.
I suppose its all too easy to send someone else’s spouse, kid, sibling or parent to war in some God-forsaken country than it is to go yourself. I think when you get older, you get a little less selfish, a little more introspective, and death and mortality become a little bit more real. The “walking wounded” are often people we know or have known.
The millennials can just get over themselves. They obviously are a rather selfish lot, perhaps more selfish then my generation who for all its faults, at least could be accused of a whopping dose of altruism.
It concerns me in general that there is so much chest-thumping about going to war and ass-whupping in general, as long as there is no personal involvement. War is nasty, evil, and sometimes necessary. All too often those who are not involved (like women, children and old people) become collateral damage. Homes, towns and cities become ruined as well.
Some would argue that drone strikes and bombs dropped from high above cause the most collateral damage. Perhaps. On the other hand, its clean, surgical, and leaves very little footprint when compared to an invading army and all the accoutrements it takes to support an army.
Those who are bellowing for more war need to reflect and at least look at Afghanistan. No one has won there yet. Two great and mighty nations couldn’t do it. Indigenous people who can move in and out of the shadows in a harsh land seem to win every time, regardless of how many tanks and daisy-cutters end up there.
That’s unfortunate that young people refuse to take up arms to defend their nation. When our nation is under attack, we should be willing to defend it.
Bombing Isis isn’t going to defeat them. We can’t regulate Isis out of existence. We need troops on the ground who can seize and hold land to do that. Most of those troops will have to be Americans.
At least they are recognizing the evil over there. I’ll give them that.
Here’s part of the reason.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/428349/hidden-reason-why-americans-dislike-islam-david-french?BqPZVyzUxRThAR51.01
Excerpt:
I expected the jihadists to be evil, but even I couldn’t fathom the depths of their depravity. And it was all occurring against the backdrop of a brutally violent and intolerant culture. Women were beaten almost as an afterthought, there was a near-total lack of empathy for even friends and neighbors, lying was endemic, and sexual abuse was rampant. Even more disturbingly, it seemed that every problem was exacerbated the more religious and pious a person (or village) became. I spent enough time outside the wire and interacting with tribal leaders to get a sense of the reality around me, but the younger guys on the line spent weeks at a time living in the heart of the local community. I remember one young soldier, after describing the things he’d seen since the start of the deployment, gestured towards the village around us and said — in perfect Army English — “Sir, this s**t is f**ked up.”
and
Two million Americans have been downrange, and they’ve come home and told families and friends stories the media rarely tells. Those stories have an impact, but because of the cultural distance between America’s warriors and its media, academic, and political aristocracy, it’s an impact the aristocracy hasn’t been tracking. Experience trumps idealistic rhetoric, and I can’t help but think that polls like YouGov’s are at least partly registering the results of a uniquely grim American experience.
Cargo, I don’t think anyone has ever doubted that ISIS is evil. Beheading people on live TV should affirm that fact if you know nothing else about them.
I think the problem centers on the most effective way to deal with the little bastards.
Maybe the way to do it is to pay their respective countries to upgrade their military, draft the little thugs and get them off the streets. Or…go kill them. I really don’t care. I just don’t want to kill Americans killing them.
In the eternal words of Casey Kasem, that’s “ponderous, f@#$ing ponderous!”. They’re ok with standing up against terrorism as long as they don’t have to be involved? Then again, it sounds just like Congress. They’re ok with the US intervening in Syria as long as they don’t have to vote for a resolution of war or even an AUMF. After all, they don’t want to be involved; what would their constituents think?
You know, if people like this San Bernadino fellow want to go to Syria and fight for Isis there, why should we stop them? At least they wouldn’t be wrecking havoc here. I’d have no problem cancelling their passports and revoking their citizenship if they chose to do so.
Me either. Bye!! Happy trails!
Looks like Congress is actually going to take up an AUMF – and fund it. Congress needs to get on record over ISIS. Time for them to stop saying that we are not doing enough and yet not authorizing/funding what to do.
@Pat.Herve
I hope you’re right.
Completely agree. Congress needs to stop saying we’re not doing enough while they stand in the way of progress.
Hmm … maybe CONgress really *is* the antonym for PROgress!
Excellent!!
That article was not limited to ISIS as evil. It was about the observations of Sharia and fundamentalist Islam.
I think those are areas we need to stay out of, at least in their corner of the world.
It hasn’t been that long since some Christian sects were pretty atrocious to not only their own members but also to others.
I think we have to be careful about standing in judgement unless of course, our laws are being violated.
@Moon-howler
I have no problem pointing out evil.
The difference is that we try to improve while they have regressed to the 7th century.
Not sure I want to be included in the we. Not all Christians did evil things and certainly not all Muslims do evil things.
Was Mr Dear an example of a “we” Christian trying to improve?
good one, Starry. He said he Baby Warrior or something ridiculous like that. I wonder if that clown will get the death penalty? He is a cop killer.
Don’t think cops will forget that fact anytime soon. If I were an antiabortion activist, I wouldn’t make any sudden moves in a cop’s presence, hoohoo!
Some of the clinics are guarded by US Marshalls, the threat of violence is so bad.
Too many military decisions are made to augment the careers of politicians rather than to actually accomplish objectives. I can see why people don’t want to be pawns in that game.
Absolutely, El Guapo!! On the other hand, these young people seem to want troops sent in, but they don’t want to go. That’s a little rugged.