Check out this recent picture from Afghanistan.  Specifically, notice that the little Afghan girl standing next to the soldier on patrol seems completely at ease with his presence.

What does that tell you about the impression our soldiers are giving to the most innocent of the people there in that unfortunate country?

In spite of all the bad publicity our troops get, on the whole, I suspect that they are making a positive impression on the locals, and setting an example of proper behavior that they have likely never ever seen before.  The contrast in their minds between the behavior of the big foreigners and the local wild men is probably quite stark, and I bet that impression will be lasting.