Actualy Brent is a Morman and a retired air force general. But he has always seen himself as an elitist in the Henry Kissenger mold.
He like many elitists see the world as so complex that the best course of action is to always roll with the flow. Like many elitists he thinks that if he doesnt understand the situation no one understands the situation.
Brent is one of the idiots that argued there was no need to take down Saddam in 1991.. Saddam, according to Bren,t would be overthown by his own people in short order after the loss of Gulf War I. Brent did not have a clue about the real world in Iraq.Brent in my view is not very bright and thinks he is briliant.
Some people on this site don't understand how the world works. They think because Condi Rice worked with Brent that she was under his spell. Condi is the kind of person who will do your will when she works for you.. But she does not agree with Scowcroft and nither does Bush.
In the real world getting to be Secretary of state means you have to follow the direction of those higher on the ladder than you are. Once at the top of the ladder one can do his own thing as long as the President agrees.
Doing what you want on the way up the ladder just gets you kicked off the ladder by those above you. Doing what you want when you are at the top of the ladder in opposition of the President also gets you kicked off the ladder.
When I managed other peoples radio stations people thought I was in total agreement with the owners. Some of those people expressed surprise when I handled my own stations quite differently. They confused following the bosses orders with doing your own thing.