(Newser)
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Friday marks the 10th anniversary of the US invasion of Afghanistan; with an eye on the decade-long effort, the Pew Research Center asks veterans: Were the Afghanistan and Iraq wars worth it? Just 34% of post-Sept. 11 veterans say yes, while another 33% say no (Afghanistan is considered slightly more worthwhile than Iraq, according to the poll). Even so, 96% say they are "proud" of their military service, and 82% say they would advise young people to enlist, Politico reports.
The survey also illustrates the hardships of military life: Since leaving the service, 48% say their family relations have been strained; 47% say they've often felt irritable or angry; and 44% say they've had trouble coming back to civilian life. A full 84% say the American public doesn't understand the problems they face—problems which, for 37%, include post-traumatic stress. Click for the complete findings.
