"Also, General Zinni, who commanded central command, was very much opposed to the war in the first place, as I was. We were both quoted to that effect in February of 2003"

William Odom was a retired United States Army Lieutenant General and previous Director of the National Security Agency. In this quote, he is referring to General Anthony Zinni, who was the Commander in Chief of the United States Central Command from 1997 to 2000. Odom and Zinni were both opposed to the war in Iraq in 2003, and their views were widely reported in the media. Odom and Zinni both thought that the war was unnecessary and would have dreadful effects. They argued that the war would destabilize the region, increase terrorism, and cost the United States billions of dollars. Regardless of their cautions, the war went ahead and the effects of their forecasts have been borne out. Odom and Zinni's opposition to the war in Iraq works as a tip of the importance of listening to the recommendations of skilled military leaders.