a strong indictment to the fact that Americans can successfully protest a current war and the way it's being fought and the outcome can still be greatly successful.

Brainstorming, even in a public arena, is a powerful planning and evaluation tool. MacArthur got under the skin of many politicians and eventually went too far with Truman in Korea but my guess is that, right or wrong, his needling had the result of causing discussions and debate that might not have happened otherwise.

I completely acknowledge the fact that an enemy can use it against you in propoganda but overall I believe that protest creates more good than harm. Historically, complacency and rigidity in strategy have generally failed in the long run.