Endgame Viable

It occurs to me that there is a serious flaw with politicians deferring to military commanders on the ground when it comes to Iraq:  It undermines the principle that the U.S. is a civilian government.  This isn’t Burma, after all.  Obviously you want military commanders leading military campaigns… but foreign policy?  Five years after the end of major combat operations?  (No, I still don’t believe the situation in Iraq is a “war.”)