Gallup 65 country poll: "Would you fight for your country in case of war ?"

[politicus]

5    United States    78%    1990    
6    Australia    75%            1990    
=7    Switzerland    74%    1990    
=7    United Kingdom 74%    1990    
9    Netherlands    69%    1990

US fifth with Vietnam almost a generation behind and long before Iraq/Afghanistan. Britain post-Falkland was also quite high. The Brits had second highest per capita loss in Afghanistan and also high per capita loss in  Iraq.

It is interesting that the Netherlands were actually in top 10 back then, and they have not had the same losses in overseas operations as Britain and Denmark.

The humiliation in Srebrenica shouldn't be that influential. Again I think that the lack of a realistic threat to the homeland is crucial, still the collapse in willingness to fight has been far larger in the Netherlands than in other similar countries.

Never ever mention Srebrenica to a Dutchman.

And it's not as if that's the only reason for Dutch national confidence to take a bit of a fall over the last 25 years.

What are you thinking of?

[Insula Dei]

5    United States    78%    1990    
6    Australia    75%            1990    
=7    Switzerland    74%    1990    
=7    United Kingdom 74%    1990    
9    Netherlands    69%    1990

US fifth with Vietnam almost a generation behind and long before Iraq/Afghanistan. Britain post-Falkland was also quite high. The Brits had second highest per capita loss in Afghanistan and also high per capita loss in  Iraq.

It is interesting that the Netherlands were actually in top 10 back then, and they have not had the same losses in overseas operations as Britain and Denmark.

The humiliation in Srebrenica shouldn't be that influential. Again I think that the lack of a realistic threat to the homeland is crucial, still the collapse in willingness to fight has been far larger in the Netherlands than in other similar countries.

Never ever mention Srebrenica to a Dutchman.

And it's not as if that's the only reason for Dutch national confidence to take a bit of a fall over the last 25 years.

What are you thinking of?

Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh, basically.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I would use the opportunity to push for the war between nations to become a war between classes, as happened with the Great War in Russia and Germany and Hungary.

[Ban my account ffs!]

I would use the opportunity to push for the war between nations to become a war between classes, as happened with the Great War in Russia and Germany and Hungary.

From the comfort of your armchair, of course.

[Nichlemn]

It would depend on the circumstances - not just whether the war seemed just, but also how necessary my contribution was. I'm not likely to join the military in the event of a small-scale war where only a few hundred extra soldiers are needed. In a total war scenario in which we're being invaded by an authoritarian regime where every person on the front lines is critical? Hopefully I wouldn't chicken out.

Also, I'm a young, single, relatively fit male. Surely a lot of these people answering yes are decidedly not in those categories. How many 70 year old grandmothers are really likely to 'fight' in the US's next war? It seems to be that this question is probably better sense as a proxy for how likely you are to approve of a war involving your country.

[Knives]

Most likely I wouldn't fight but if were facing off against the axis in the 40's I would.

[Platypus]

The usefulness of this poll result is in seeing the number of people not aligned with either side, and correlating it to education in critical thinking.

[IceSpear]

If the US itself were actually threatened (i.e a Hitler-esque figure seized power in Mexico and proceeded to conduct a Blitzkrieg-style aerial assault and ground invasion)? Yes.

Run-of-the-mill neocon war of choice to protect our strategic interests/liberate the oppressed people of Absurdistan? No.

This.