It is never easy to know who's right, since the troops are supposed to avoid direct involvement in political debates.

NPR: Murtha Raises Question of Troop Sentiment on Iraq

Washington (CNN) -- The U.S. military is ending its policy of excluding women from combat and will open combat jobs and direct combat units to female troops, multiple officials told CNN on Wednesday.

CNN: Pentagon to open combat jobs to women

For the pilots like Donut, this link to the troops on the ground gives them very direct feedback and satisfaction in their work.

CNN: War stories: Donut in a Warthog

The U.S. keeps 30, 000 troops in Korea to deal with the threats on that peninsula, which are of direct interest to Japan.

FORBES: The Noda-Obama Summit and U.S. Defense "Rebalancing" toward Asia