Look again at what Bacevich wrote. His first paragraph argues for the same point you are making.
I can’t explain his support for Obama. I never talked politics with him. I also can’t explain my in-laws support for the Democrat party.
I don’t know the whole story about Camp Doha. I realized early in my career that when somebody died or was seriously injured in peacetime that the first line supervisor would be fired. The second line supervisor would be fired and the third line supervisor would be retired. The Navy is the same way. If your ship runs aground, you get fired. You could be the Captain of the ship and be sound asleep when the ship runs aground. It doesn’t matter. You get fired. It’s not always fair, but it sends a message about how important some things are. Bacevich is brilliant and was a great warrior. It appears that he was unlucky (coupled with some mistakes) and he took responsibility and the Army lost a great leader. You can rail against your luck all you want. It just is. Somewhere, there’s a former artillery Soldier whose actions with a heater had a tremendous effect on today’s Army.
I did, and I do agree with his assertion on that point. I just don’t agree with his conclusions and his tacit approval that Obama is tuned into the American psyche and doing it right. I completely agree with your conclusion on luck and the responsibilities taken. Experienced it play out many times, both ways for and against me, and others. Just comes with the territory.