Zinni was a rogue general, mostly siding with the left. He was certainly no Mattis. I haven’t read much abut his command capability or how his Marines viewed him, but my personal impression is that he wanted to be a diplomat more than a warrior.....
General Zinni may have Democrat leanings but he was a fine officer with a very distinguished history as a commander and a forward thinker. I have read a number of posters’ ravings and childish comments and am disappointed in them.
I met and worked with General Zinni several times during my career and he was energetic, forceful, imaginative and committed to his Marines.
I don’t care at all if he has come to view things differently than I prefer: he has more than earned the right to his opinions.