Publication

This report examines whether public statements from senior military officers help persuade the American public to support or oppose a proposed use of force. The results of a national survey show that military opposition reduces public support for the use of force abroad by 7%, whereas military support increases overall public support by 3%. The authors suggest that there is a significant incentive for political leaders to get public endorsements from senior military leaders and that this could lead to a problematic politicization of the military.