[Kissinger's] thoughts and beliefs go counter to what the Generals and leaders on the ground in the Iraq War believe

Correction: They go counter to what the Generals and leaders on the ground in the Iraq War state publicly. The vast majority of the officers will stay loyal to the President’s policy even if they disagree with it. In fact, it’s even within the realm of possibility that someone asked Kissinger to be the face of dissent.

That’s all speculation, of course, but my point is that we’re simply not in a position to know what the military leaders truly believe.

In fact, the following quote makes me think that he may have actually been speaking with the administration’s unofficial blessing.

“I think we have to redefine the course, but I don’t believe the alternative is between military victory, as it has been defined previously, and total withdrawal,” he said.