In the 2006 Military Times poll, 35 percent of those surveyed said they disapprove of the president's actions in Iraq and 42 percent disapprove. Only 50 percent said they believe the outcome of U.S. efforts in Iraq is likely to be successful, down from 83 percent in 2004.

One especially telling measure of feeling among the military is that only 41 percent now say the United States should have invaded Iraq, down from 65 percent in 2003. A recent Gallup Poll for USA Today found that 45 percent of the U.S. electorate said they think the invasion was right.

"They're seeing more casualties and fatalities and less progress," said David Segal, of the University of Maryland's Center for Research on Military Organization. "Part of what we're seeing is a recognition that the intelligence that led to the war was wrong."