At what point in our military history did the "Generals on the ground" start dictating military policy?

Go back and read history.

It was after ww2 that politicians started making all the military decisions and look where that got us. In that time we had Korea (a war that was never finished), Vietnam (a war we lost), Somalia (a war we ran away from) and Bosnia (a war with no point). Politicians felt it was in their best interest to take over control of the military because after all they "Know" more than simple grunts right?

Generals were the ones making the decisions and answering to the president, now politicians make the decisions and expect the generals to obey.

Get your facts straight!

History has shown time and again that a Military run by politics is always a failure.

Show me one war won by opinion poll and I will show you ocean front property in Arizona.

I know your Bush/republican hating mind might not grasp the fact history has existed far beyond the 1950's, but you should actually learn facts before making an obviously ignorant statement/question, as you have done today.

Here is a history assignment for you, look up Julius Ceaser and his war against Pompey and the senate. Also look up what happened when Hitler decided to micro-manage his military.

Get back to us when you learn something.

catch 22, picking a very strong foreign policy vp will make it look like the vp is doing the tough decision if a crisis/war breakout(cheney/bush). I believe he should choose someone to help win the election. there are so many advisors on each persons staff that one person won't make a difference. the vp is a figure head just like the president. When this country gets a strong 3rd party it will help the country. If he doesn't pick Hillary then Mccain can choose a female and get most female votes for the ones that defected from the democratic side for Barack Hussein Obama not choosing Hillary

Generals have been running wars for hundreds of years. Napoleon who was the General of the Army called the shots. Washington called the shots. Grant called the shots. I can go on and on. MacArthur was fired because he almost started a war with the Russians and made the Chinese US mess even greater. Generals take instructions from the president but they can always plead their case before action begins.

Bush isn't deferring military policy. He has fired generals too. When the generals on the ground don't give the right answer, they're gone. That makes it easier to listen to the generals on the ground. It's politics, and it has worked well. We all support the troops, so if it appears that generals have said we must stay, then we must stay.

Agreed, WW2 was the last time generals actually dictated where the war was going. Rapid communication put a stop too that!

And in a fire fight? Depends on the General! Otherwise I'm with Top! (if ya know whaat that means)

By the way.Bush isn't in control. Haliburton and the Devil (Dick Head Cheney) Is!

Better Dead Then Red!

Perhaps that idea - the president as commander - worked when Ike was president. When the current president spent his time defending the bars on the redneck Rivera and the two presumptive nominees either did not serve or did not hold a significant command position, we need input from the generals who actually understand military command.

Funny...I thought it was the other way around. I think if the army were given free reign, we'd be done with this war. And the middle east would think twice about starting something again, too.

Yes Sir! When we're battling people who hijack CIVILIAN aircraft and fly them into CIVILIAN OFFICE buildings....yes, I would like to give the military free reign. You move on if you like. I've got those images burned into my retinas.

let me ask you this if you are in a fire fight, or a fox hole or taking a bunker who would you want leading you, the field general or bush, mccain or obama. depends on how much you value your life.

they don't dictate, the advise, do you listen to your mechanic or to your congressman when your car is not running right????

January 20th, 2001,,,,,,,,when this country became a military dictatorship.