The anti-war people neutralize any concept of duty or mission on the part of the military, and paint the troops as either foolish and uneducated dupes of the system, or people forced into the military by economic circumstances. When the troops do make positive statements to the press, they are written off as brainwashed, rehearsed, or talking only out of fear of their superiors.

All of these ideas are deadly insults to these men and women.

The milbloggers and military sites, where few here apparently bother to tread, often have long and detailed tributes to lost friends and comrades. This one is typical. Here's another.