“I think it is the grappling with important problems with greater-than-expected candor, genuine authenticity and extraordinary sacrifice that accounts for the military’s high standing. The chosen military messengers often convey that. Can we say the same of other sectors of society: hard problems, candor, authenticity, sacrifice?”

Ben Heineman, Belfer Center senior fellow, wrote “Petraeus, not Westmoreland,” which the Washington Post published in its “On Leadership” blog on November 2, 2009.

For the full opinion article, go to: http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/19672/