An active duty general is on very thin ice to offer any criticisms, negative comments, about the secretary of defense. Once a general is retired, however, the gloves can come off. |
Politics has a number of definitions, and especially at the senior general and admiral level, there's a good deal of jockeying. |
These kinds of comments have greater resonance if a policy or a war is under close scrutiny or going badly. The more critics there are, the more the retired officer is likely to get a favorable hearing. |