But over two decades he has developed into a military expert who has not shrunk from challenging the liberal orthodoxy.
Against this liberal orthodoxy it is worth making two points.
In his own theological views, Bacon was broad-minded and an advocate of liberal orthodoxy.
When I did stories whose facts challenged liberal orthodoxies, editors were glad to run them.
Critics see the sensitivity training and community building as the imposition of a liberal orthodoxy.
The analysis would have had more credibility, too, if it inched away from the standard liberal orthodoxy every now and then.
The papers say they are merely bucking liberal orthodoxy on campuses.
His power base centers on 25 young, middle-ranking moderate Democrats who challenge the liberal orthodoxy.
The view of the revolution it offers has raised questions that challenge the basic assumptions of both Soviet and liberal orthodoxy.
There have, surely, been grounds for complaint about liberal orthodoxy.