This month marks five years since the U.S. invaded Iraq. In the meantime, Osama bin Laden, who directed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America, continues to call terrorist shots from caves in western Pakistan, having escaped Afghanistan after the U.S. invasion in 2001. If you, too, are distressed by the use and misuse of the U.S. military since 9/11, there's something you can do about it: vote.

In November, voters will elect a new president, the next commander-in-chief of the military. Retired four-star Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, who served under eight presidents from 1961 until retiring in 2000, and has since been an outspoken critic of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and conduct of that war, understands as well as anyone the issue of civilian control of the military and its complexities, so I asked him a simple question: What qualities should we look for in the next commander-in-chief?

Zinni, a guest lecturer this semester in the Hart Leadership Program of Duke's Sanford Institute for Public Policy, enlightened me with an answer based on his confidence in and devotion to the Constitution and American democracy.

The Constitution is not just a historic document to Zinni, who emphasized that military officers "swear an oath to the Constitution... to the very concept of our country. ... It means that we observe allegiance to the civilian leadership of the country."

This allegiance includes dissenting appropriately. He recalled his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, where the chairman asked, "Gen. Zinni, do you swear that if we confirm your appointment that you will come before this body if called and you will present your honest opinions even if they are in opposition to administration policy?"

"In my mind our forefathers were so brilliant," Zinni said. "That confirmation was a commitment to the representatives of people of the United States to give your views within the system."

But he added, "The business of a uniformed leader -- where and when and how they present their views -- can be touchy. If you work for somebody like [Defense] Secretary [William] Cohen [in the Clinton administration] it's not a problem, because if you feel strongly enough he'll make sure your voice is heard."

Civilian control is complicated when the recommendations of experienced military officers are not solicited or are dismissed.

"Probably the classic example is Gen. Shinseki," Zinni said passionately, referring to the former Army Chief of Staff who advised Congress that Operation Iraqi Freedom would require approximately 400,000 troops. This was rejected by then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who "sort of belittles Shinseki and says 'That's way off the mark. It's ridiculous.' Now here's a general, speaking about the number of troops to accomplish a mission, fully the most qualified to answer that. Here's a political appointee who counters him. And what's the general supposed to do?"

"We've sort of repeated the same experience we went through in Vietnam."

And what are voters to do, to prevent not just another Vietnam, but another Iraq?

"Accountability is important," Zinni stressed. "You know, the primary voice of the people is through the Congress. ... We are fortunate that we had forefathers that were geniuses in designing a... form of government that, unlike anything the world has ever known, works so perfectly. ... And it's based on this balance of power. The check on bad decisions is supposed to come from one branch checking on the other."

Zinni is confident Americans will correct the present course. "Usually because of the way we vote it tends to shift back and forth from political parties [and] positions. ... The pendulum swings, which is great. ... People tend to move it all to the center and balance it all out. And that's what we're probably best at, [being] a balanced nation.

Having witnessed chaos, failed governments, and dictatorships all over the world, Zinni appreciates what we homebodies may consider a rancorous presidential campaign. "The magnificent part of the campaign [is] the diversity of the people and the diversity of opinions in this election... I'm real excited here to see the involvement of the young people. And it isn't just sort of a rock star following. They're into the issues.... Americans are into the issues.... It's healthy. And I travel around the world; they're so envious of what we have."

Including, perhaps, generals who won't fade away.

(John Schwade lives in Durham and works as a psychologist at a state prison.)