Only a general can get away with criticizing Bush?

Rep. Charles Rangel on Wesley Clark:

"This war is going to last after I die, after my son, who was a Marine for four years, dies," said Rangel. "This general is a protection for America, to challenge this president's policies without being called unpatriotic. I feel like I've gone back to get my big brother who's a four-star general."

Excuse me Rep. Rangel, but do we really want to encourage the idea that only someone with a military background is qualified to question the President in times of war? Whatever happened to the idea that civilians are supposed to be the ones in charge?

Am I the only one who finds this whole idea mildly disturbing?