I know you were being funny, and it is funny, but to be fair is it really the same thing?

President Bush was discharged from the Air National Guard in 1973, wheras Musharef (an active duty General) was appointed Army Chief of staff by Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan in 1998. When Sharif tried to fire him a bloodless coup was enacted which resulted in Musharef becoming the Chief. Admittedly my understanding of how this came about is a bit murky, but it is clear that he never relenquished his military post, nor did the military ever not recognize him as anything but their Chief of Staff.

The President of the United States is the Commander in Chief and as such holds the supreme rank in the military, but can it really be considered a military rank if its not attainable while being a member of the military? Since only a civilian can hold the Presidency, than its a ciivilian post, not a military one. (see DOD Directive 1344.10 for the rules regulating political activities of Armed Forces members on Active Duty) http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134410p.pdf

On another note, I alway wondered why Gaddaffi never gave himself a promotion to General and decided to remain a lowly colonol after his own coup brought him to power. Does Colonol Gadaffi just roll off the tongue better or what?

Steve G.