5 days until Sarge leaves for Afghanistan. Someone agrees with certain paleocons, Ron Paul, Democrats, and Michael Scheuer that the war in Iraq has taken away resources that should have been used for going after Al Qaeda and OBL in Afghanistan. It remains to be seen if the forces under USSOCOM are being employed well or not. Someone thinks that they're being wrong for the used purposes, and hence their ability to carry out their mission is being degraded.

How can we prevent another colossal mistake from being made in the future?

Rebellion: Ex-Iraq commander accuses Bush Administration of 'gross incompetence'

I remember there was some controversy as to whether retired military officers (including at least six generals) were permitted to criticize the policies or the administration of the president (particlarly former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld), including its handling of Iraq, after a group of retired officers made public statements disagreeing with the conduct of the war in Iraq. Others have done so even more recently. While some would argue that this sort of criticism undermines security or morale, or is "unpatriotic," or destroys the subordination of the military to a civilian government, how would the ancient Greeks have replied to the question? I think we would find that they would be more permissive of such criticism being made. After all, are not those who fight also citizens? Should not those who have retired from the military be able to influence public opinion just like pundits who have very little knowledge of war or foreign affairs, or voice their dissatisfaction with the administration through the MSM? Do they not serve a vital role in informing the public that things have gone wrong, despite what the mouthpieces of the administration, including those retired officers it has garnered to lend support for its cause, might suggest? Should not their expert opinions be considered by the citizens as well?

Sic Semper Tyrannis 2008: Retired Soldiers Should Not Criticize?

Some criticism of General Anthony Zinni:
American Thinker: General Zinni and Pre-War Intelligence
Zinni about-face was amateurish

More on corruption in the Pentagon and the perfumed princes who had roosted there before becoming "military experts" for the MSM.

They Live: The MFMs Among Us by Kelley Vlahos

Diane Farsetta
What the Pentagon Pundits Were Selling on the Side