Reply #15: JFK, LBJ and NIXON--the three horsemen of Vietnam--all served in the Navy. [View All]

[MADem]

As did Poppy Bush. All of these former military men tripped the war fantastic without too much concern.

I still aver that it makes no difference, beyond impressing the (bulk of whom have NOT served) population, by and large.

Eisenhower was a different breed of cat--he was not a four star general, he was a FIVE star general. We don't have those nowadays, because we aren't "at war" in any official sense (that failed police action/terrorist hunt in Iraq and the Stan not withstanding). Eisenhower didn't just do a specialized military job, or even run an installation, a regional command, or hold sway over a swathe of geography in a designated area, he was the doggone SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER. He held all the marbles--he was King of the War. No general since Ike has had that degree, depth or breadth of experience, authority, and absolute power. He handled it well, but I don't know if I'd trust others to be as thoughtful with clout as he was.