I'd like to share a memory as a currently serving US military officer: At the height of our operations in Iraq, around 2006-2007, the main killer of our troops

I'd like to share a memory as a currently serving US military officer: At the height of our operations in Iraq, around 2006-2007, the main killer of our troops was of course "roadside bombs." In a candid talk with my class of cadets at that time, I remember a senior officer (a conventional infantry or artillery guy) telling us that the top priority had to be reducing this specific threat, above all the stated goals of our mission. His reasoning was that, although we knew roadside bombs were not going to tactically defeat any unit larger than a platoon, the deaths were eroding the American public's support of our operations and would ultimately force us to withdraw and abandon all of the stated goals. He was right, but I remember feeling uncomfortable with his thinking. It wasn't outright psychological operations against Americans, and I'm sure he wasn't tasked with that nor thinking of it that way, but it was trying to influence the opinion of American civilians who are supposed to be in control of the military. Of course public affairs stuff and reports to congress, while meant to inform, are also usually crafted to influence. Anyway, this is how it starts, and I'm not sure it's obvious when a line is crossed.