I think this was a flounce actually. Generals don’t mess up like that over multiple interviews without realizing the consequences. It is possibly a segway to a political bid. Using Rolling Stone as the magazine could have been monumentally savvy in that it would get the genral’s opinions out to a segment of the populace that might not otherwise be receptive to him.

On the other hand, it is possible that the General is simply fed up with a thankless and gruelling job, that requires a non-existent magic wand. He would not be the first General to be thrilled to be relived of a no-win command.