As they used to say in America back in the day when the first generation game shows were all the rage, that is the (or at least a) $64000 question. The answer I suppose depends largely on the extent to which one views the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan as wholly separate “wars” or rather as “merely” the currently most visible manifestations of a much broader and deeper, and to use your term, existential, conflict.

This in turn implicates other factors such as the biases and assumptions of one trying to answer the ultimate question as well as the terms of reference and “field of view” being applied. For example, I happen to believe that “we” (again this will vary as well due to these and other variables but for purposes of my response I will characterize “we” as the generic “liberal west,” are indeed in such an existential conflict with what I will call (again generically) islamo-fascists. I realize the use of such a term is not in vogue at present and that those who better understand the religion and politics of Islam will have much to say about this “group” being a small minority who are using it as a cover for other more secular motives, have “hijacked” the true faith etc., but I will leave that for others. My point nevertheless is that even though the GWOT and other terms of similar sweep are “out” now (in no small measure I am sure due to that personification of evil, GW Bush and his cabal of neocon demons, used them), history and current events, tensions and threats tell me we are indeed in such a conflict, and using such ludicrous terms as ” man-caused disasters,” “overseas contingency operations” and the like and using incredible verbal gymnastics to avoid stating the obvious common denominators (men of Muslim background or belief) among most of the significant actual or attempted terroristic violence is a bit like whistling past a graveyard.

Even with such a plethora of opportunities, I think the trend is increasingly (especially since the advent of the “All Volunteer Force” and sadly with the dying off of our WWII veterans) that the average American (without a family or other close connection to someone serving) spends very little, if any, time thinking about, much less worrying about or appreciating, our military.

Not denigrating, simply pointing out cultural relatives.

On another note, is this the equivalent of the U.S’ Veteran’s Day?

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:EE8MXjJzdZxa_M:http://www.delsjourney.com/images/news/news_01-10-06/1-7241-Gatling-Gun-Firing.jpg