American military Veterans get the right to speak out like everyone else…but the respect thing is not what it used to be. In World War II General Patton told his troops their job was not to give their lives for their country…but to “winkle” the other guy into giving his life for his country.
Starting around the Vietnam War US troops were “winkled” into giving their lives for the business corporations. In the Middle East Petroleum Wars American service members were outright “winkled” into giving their lives as de facto security guards for the oil companies. 
Today’s soldiers joined up for all sorts of reasons…but the high suicide rate no doubt  reflects the reality that they were called upon to murder large masses of innocent people…all in the service of the petroleum and power interests. Sure, I’ll listen to what they have to say…but their opinions are no longer worthy of automatic “respect”…because they either didn’t know what they were fighting for…or learned too late.