re: The Pentagon being political should make us all very very nervous at night

So true. The father of my girlfriend from 20 year ago was a recently retired (at that time) Major General. He was formerly a Brig. for the 82nd AB when they took our Noriega and later the forward commander of Operation Desert Shield in 91. Great man who got out around 2003 and just decided to consult for the Saudi royal family on military matters. He opened my eyes to how political it was at that level. Getting a 3rd or 4th star is purely political appointment and I never realized that. I was naive enough to think we always had the best of the best at those levels.