>>>They are stunned and dismayed by what they see in the American press

When my son returned from Iraq, this was the thing that troubled him the most.

He said that a reporter would interview a hundred soldiers if necessary until he found one that would say something negative and that's what they would put on the news.

As is typical of reporters, they would often quote comments out of context, exaggerate, or infer what wasn't actually said.

I always encourage everyone to talk to those serving to get actual facts about what is going on over there and at the very least, shake their hand and say thanks whenever the opportunity presents itself.