Dumb question about "Generals"

[Fresh_Start]

What are the duties and responsibilities of Generals?
Are they really supposed to be completely political animals or do they have a duty/responsibility to the troops and the military establishment?

For example, if Petreaus is willingly riding the troops into the destruction of the military, is he in gross negligence of his duties and responsibilities?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Here:

"I (insert name), having been appointed a (insert rank) in the U.S. Army under the conditions indicated in this document, do accept such appointment and do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God."

So, yeah, Petraeus is a disgrace to his uniform any way you cut it.

[Fresh_Start]

2. Thats the oath for all officers...what are Generals duties

specifically?

[WilliamPitt]

4. Here

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/armyorank/blgoa.htm

[Fresh_Start]

6. thank you

if this is accurate....

an Act of Congress, approved 14 May 1800, specifically authorized President Adams to suspend, any further appointment to the Office of General of the Armies of the United States, "having reference to economy and the good of the service."

Petreaus has no duty to the "good of the service". So he can ride the military into the grave.

[napi21]

3. Few if any person ever becomes a General without being political!

Check Petreaus' bio, and you'll see that was Admiral right when he called him an asskisser and a chickenshit.

[Fresh_Start]

5. I understand that there is a political component

I'm trying to determine if there is any else besides the political component....

[FarCenter]

8. Generals order men into battle

If things go well, then murder, rape and plunder of a lightly defended civilian population can be enjoyed with modest casualties.

If things go badly, then a few hundred thousand are killed on each side in a month or so.

For which see Ypres, Verdun, Stalingrad ...

[MonkeyFunk]

7. A general's job

is to do what he's told.