Quote Originally Posted by Rank amateur View Post
Seems to me that since the first Gulf War we only have two types of military leaders: those that admit they ramrodded the country into a war without considering the other side or US interests and those who refuse to admit it.

I can also say, from experience, that if you insist on considering the other sides interests, you're highly likely to be perceived as dangerously naive.
Why not take it back to before Vietnam and be done with it?

Seriously, the issues I have with Clark are in some ways similar to those I have with Powell...although Powell has managed to keep a lower profile. I don't recall Zinni ramrodding anyone into a war, or Steiner (although he does fall before your GW1 cutoff), or any number of other commanders. There have been some (very) vocal exceptions, but I think for the most part those are individuals who are deeply in love with the sound of their own voices and consistently overestimate their own ability to either influence or properly execute policy.