Politički eksperti se općenito slažu da je prva Mesićeva godina na funkciji bila najbolja u njegovoj političkoj karijeri, kad je on načinio par odlučnih poteza, a jedan od značajnijih je bio prisilno umirovljenje 12 generala Hrvatske vojske, u pokušaju da se načini jasno razdvajanje između vojske i političkog vodstva.
Political experts generally agree that Mesic's first year in office was the best in his political career when he made a few decisive moves, not the least of which was to impose an enforced retirement on the 12 generals of the Croatian Army in an attempt to make a clear separation between the military and political leadership.