Maybe Mullen’s angling for retirement. Or there are some serious disagreements between Obama and the military. I think more of the former, at least in this case, but I wouldn’t rule out the latter.

So.
First Mullen criticizes Obama’s budget.
Then he says Iran has enough fuel to build a nuclear weapon.
Then Robert Gates refutes this.

The military does tend to be a more conservative institution than the rest of the country, particularly at the upper levels. And I’ve spent enough time around ROTC students and military-intel trainees passing through the Russian program here at UM to know that it’s largely true. I’ve heard ROTC officers use slurs for homosexuals that I didn’t even know existed.

I think Admiral Mullen might be looking for a job in a week or two. But this sort of thing could be worth keeping an eye on in the future. Some among the military’s upper leadership are probably less than happy when they think about another four years of an Obama presidency. They may be concerned about a return to the “underfunding” of the Clinton administration, but I don’t think that’s what’s really on their minds. If that issue comes up, it’ll become a symbol, a token battle for the natural reduction in media stature and public importance that will take place with the Iraq withdrawal. Basically, David Petraeus et al won’t be on Meet the Press every other Sunday anymore. And some people might not like that.

An addendum: Jack Daniel’s has another devoted customer.