Captain’s Quarters asks:

When will Democrats get through their head that our military comes under civilian control? This isn’t Starship Troopers, where only veterans make decisions on war and peace, and most Americans wouldn’t want to live in that kind of society. All due respect to Murtha’s Viet Nam service, but being an enlisted man in Viet Nam doesn’t make him the reincarnation of von Clausewitz, either. Dick Cheney has served as a Secretary of Defense and has his own expertise on military matters…

Well, let’s be clear.  Murtha was more than an "enlisted man" in Vietnam.  He led a brigade.  he was a leader.  And a decorated hero.

But that aside, there is something to what the Captain writes.  Being an enlisted man in Vietnam doesn’t make anyone the reincarnation of von Clausewitz. 

But I think AVOIDING service in Vietnam — as Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and most of the Iraq architects did — doesn’t exactly make you von Clausewitz either.

In fact, who wants to bet?  Who is more likely to have even READ von Clausewitz?  Bush?  Or Murtha?  I don’t even the most staunch Bush supporter will take that bet.

And finally, the big question: What happened to all the people who thought that Clinton couldn’t serve as commander-in-chief because he avoided Vietnam?  Where do THEY come down on this issue?  Show of hands anyone?