You’ve both made a point about Adm Mullin not being in Patraeus’ chain of command. He is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff which I always understood to be at the pinnacle of the uniformed military, and then you have the civilian bosses etc. The CIC rank must be what you mean? Don’t forget the “chain” which must be respected in the military (until now).Of course Bambi thinks that no one or no-thing stands between him and any no good mf he wants to take down. Never mind the courts, the Constitution, the law, past practices, common courtesy, international norms of diplomacy, whataver. He GETS his way.
The Joint Chiefs are advisors to the President; they don’t command anyone. They are not in anyones’ chain of command. General Petraeus and Admiral Mullen each have the same immediate supervisor- the Secretary of Defense.