He disregarded warnings from the national security adviser during the first Gulf War, the chief of staff of the army, two former commanding generals of the Central Command, whose jurisdiction includes Iraq, the director of operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and many, many others with great integrity and long experience in national security affairs.

CNN: Transcript: Webb says Bush took U.S. to war 'recklessly'

Since 2009 two French generals have secured strategic NATO command posts.

ECONOMIST: France's foreign-policy woes

Commanders in the field like the top officers in Central Command and Iraq, Generals John Abizaid and George Casey, respectively, have consistently argued in public against further expanding the American footprint in the theater.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Surge protector