Astroturf origins

ABC has the story on the origin of the astroturf letter from soldiers in Iraq. It was written originally by the commander of the battalion and then distributed it to the troops to sign. The article does not ask what I think is the important question: what were the conditions under which the troopers signed the letter? Could they make the decision in private and the knowledge that they did or did not sign was kept private? Or was it distributed to the battalion in front of each other and were they required to say yeah or nay in front of their buddies?

Peer pressure is an important issue here.