5 Answers

Sounds like exactly what the politicians should butt out of doing with how to fight a war. The truth will set you free. America has been on a losing streak with these political games when it has come down to it.

The military controls tactital operations in the war. But, they do not determine policy or reasoning behind the operations. Our constitution sets the order of command with the civilians in control which helps to prevent the problem of military takeover as seen in so many countries. Also, what makes you think that the military would do so much better? You may not like the decisions that the exectutive makes, but that is your opinion and for everyone you don't like there are millions that do like them and their opinion is every bit as valid as yours. Poliicians are trained in the relationships between people and countries, not the military. And when top brass develope diarrhea of the mouth it can set back the plans of their superiors in the worst way. Politicians don't run the war; the military does and when operations fail it is usually their responsibility.
As far as the U.S. being on a losing streak, the politicians may have made poor choices as far as you are concerned, but the failure of tactital operations is a military resoponsibility. In Iraq and Afganistan the military tried to fight the war as a military conflict between two large forces which it wasn't and they began to fail. It wasn't until general Petraeus came along with his change in tattics that things began to turn. Most of the time the politicians know that they have to relie on the generals when it comes to fighting and operation, but the generals don't and shouldn't intrude in policy. When they mnake public statements like these two they are being insubordinate.

Glad for your input bigben. I do, however, think "Generals" are pretty capable of knowing what is going on with politics and fighting wars. Politicians are mostly lawyers and have a different agenda when it comes to outcomes of a war. The majority of the nation at this time thinks we are in over our heads with these wars, financially and politically.