Obviously this novel honors soldiers and their sacrifice for the nation, but at the same time, there is an undeniable undertow which comes across thematically in the novel. The major thematic conundrum is that the Bush administration used the "Bravo Squad" as a propaganda tool, honoring their contribution and celebrating their success in warfare. However, that takes a bitter turn when the tour ends and they learn that they are still going to have to return and keep fighting. That bitter plot twist makes Billy Lynn more clearly aware of political agenda and the nature of the war in Iraq.
Consider what Billy's point of view must be like. If the president is already ready to celebrate Victory, and if the government truly honors Billy's contribution, why is he called back to the frontlines? The novel suggests that another kind of victory is at play. A slightly cynical interpretation of the plot might be that the real "victory" is the victory attained by the government by celebrating the army in tandem with American sports, invoking a kind of Americana loyalty which is contrary to Billy's private experience of war.
But that does not automatically offend Billy; what is the difference between being used by the government for propaganda and being used by the government for military combat? In a way, the service in the military seems like the more severe, but actually Billy ends up damaged by both in a serious way. For instance, he is damaged by a serious tease: A Dallas Cowboys cheerleader seems to be interested in starting a family with him, but instead he gets called back to war, not getting an opportunity to enjoy the freedom he believes his service helps to grant American citizens.
