You misunderstand, fellas. "The war is going poorly" in the eyes of the media, and what the media show is what the people know. I know we're doing great things over there, but until the reporting of same becomes commonplace, people will continue to wonder "why our troops are dying for nothing".
And Fistful, it isn't logical, but perception often isn't. As I said, most Americans appreciate gestures more than success. In a world where true ability is minimized and entitlement is paraded, "It's the thought that counts" takes on real substance. Slick Willie understood this instinctively. Clinton apologized for slavery and got himself declared the first "Black" President. How are African-Americans now better off?
Perception still isn't reality. No, it's better than that.