[Ryzorian]

Your not understanding what I'm saying. While you are correct in reguards to leeway ground commanders have in battlefield operations. The playing field is set by the president's policy. Yes, they are mostly following Bush's, but there have been changes. The president establishes the playing field's bounderies. The military establishes the rules of engagement with in that playing field. The president is commander in chief that the military has to obey, experianced or not.

Over all policy is set by the civilians. Iraq became a nightmare after 2003 because the civilian Bremmer, ordered the Iraqi army disbanded, the military had to carry out it's orders. Thus years of constant struggle ensued from the 2million now unemployed, armed, ex soldiers.

Afganistan is becomeing a qwagmire because we are not approaching it correctly. It's not Iraq and never will be, a working government is a pipe dream in this area. Too many tribes with too many differences historically. So policy is what is the problem, and that can only be changed by the civilians in Washington. The military does not have the authority to alter current state department policy. They may change statagies in reguards to how to implament policy but that's it.