When neo-cons say "if we leave Iraq then Bin Laden was right about the U.S. being weak" are they just dumb?

When in the history of the United States has the public enjoyed war? Didn't Washington have to hang people to stop desertion? Didn't Americans complain about fighting in WWI and about helping Britain and France and Poland in WWII prior to Pearl Harbor? Didn't Americans hate the Korean and Vietnam wars? Who are these people who think strength is defined as tolerance for casualties?