It is not the old days as one Chinese ancient proverb says "A general in the battlefield shall not need to take orders from the king" (将在外，军令有所不受），wars are much more political these days, and very much a diplomatic tool of many that could be utilized by the commander of chief or a country. Spilling over Rolling Stone? A soap opera instant classic indeed! You could definitely feel the frustration of a lone wolf, as a professional soldier at its highest rank, who has to listen to many clueless clowns while having to be responsible for hundreds of thousands lives in the war. Using media to appeal its loneliness to the public is almost the last resort, and a suicide measure to his career, he probably knows up front, but it is that frustrated
It is a diplomatic disaster when Ambassador had not been greasing well with the top military commander, one pretty much picks apart your own war. But it is a very common tactic to trigger a live soap opera around us every day in the working place, marriage, diplomat/social events etc., you name it. Remember Zhao, Ziyang, right before June 4th, 1989, he used his career to warn the public. How many of us have fed up with their knowing-little panel or boss(s) and take it to the public, just to vent the frustration? Not necessarily immature, one could only take so much suppression or frustration under certain circumstances, feel for you, General (
