>There are those who share the same opinion as you. However, there are those who think that the military experience will be a plus because it ensures that the President knows exactly what it means (personally) to send troops into a conflict and thus use it only as a last resort. I think if President Bush had more actual military time in conflict, he may have listened more to Powell who spent endless hours arguing against going to Iraq before and after his presentation to the UN (as well as Shalikashvili and others who went public with their arguments).

I agree that it helps if one had any combat experience - just like it helps if one has any other experience ;).