yichusdik:
I guess you don’t get it. It is *your* way that is the “chiddush”.
leibidik:
No, I do not agree.
Regarding hakaras haTov to an individual soldier, the OP wrote “Obviously one owes a debt of gratitude to one who does something for you, if he risks his life in doing so, all the more so.” But that’s irrelevant and not his point.
His point was regarding the IDF as a whole, which is an entity of shmad and znus.
The gemara he quoted clearly applies to the IDF as a whole. Its main purpose is as described above, though it obviously does perform military duties, too.
I think the OP wrote it best.