French troops to leave Afghanistan

[Kousbroek]

Really ?

Pretty much. Military families, at least the ones I know, are a tight knit community in and of themselves. They're a subculture. I'd wager the average American doesn't know someone in uniform. We get some people joining the military out of a sense of patriotism or desire, but a lot simply don't have other options. The military provides them with training and will pay for college once your service time is up. This is my perspective, I don't have figures to back it up.

Yes i know, when i was drafted back in the 80's i talked to quite a few GI's, most of them inner city black boys, and just about all of them told me that their main motivation to join was getting a job and an education.

But to get back to your post "This time around the mainstream of America is almost completely cut off from what are troops are actually doing in Afghanistan."
That kinda gave me the notion that your media isn't doing it's job.