And yes some Generals & Secretaries of Defense seem to carry the ball, exercising lots of control with their hawkish viewpoints. Perhaps excessively hawkish. Seems like Westmoreland & McNamara.  Always a question of who was in the drivers seat.  More recent examples might be Colin Powell & Rumsfeld, etc. 

Critics of Obama have said his restrictive rules of engagement were costly choices.  Same as your observation.

I'm supportive of the idea that commercial & financial interests can have huge influences in affairs between nations.   Some have credited financial squeezes for the breakup of the USSR.  And Prez T also uses financial tools pretty well in world affairs.  Seems much better than earlier incumbents who seemed to do sabre rattling, too often.  A strong suite in Prez T's portfolio, international commercial dealings.   

Tom