Apparently so. Please recall that just because someone is a General doesn't mean that they're above suspicion or stupidity. In fact, generals tend to be more gullible than most other officers, because of their detachment from the realities of the world and their deep involvement in the political stratum of military life. Generals do not advance through in-depth knowledge of the machines and processes of the military reality, but through in-depth knowledge of the workings of people - specifically, the politics and psychologies of making friends and influencing people. Like many politicians, the success of an officer has more to do with having a good show wife and knowing when to take credit and when to shift blame, than knowing anything about aircraft engines or munitions.
The non-commissioned officers have long maintained an unstated belief that, as one earns brass and goes up in rank, one has less understanding of the military (equipment, personnel, and processes) than they did before. The lowest private knows more about military equipment, often, than the highest generals. I've seen that one at work myself, when a three-star got into quite the argument with our own new private over the operation of the fire control computer - a model he had never seen or even heard of (the general). He was arguing about using paper tables and manual calculation devices while our own newbie private was attempting to explain the BCS and the FDDM (two semi-modern pieces of computer equipment)... The general then tried to pull the rank card (I'm a general and I know what I'm talking about!) only to have our own full-bird politely guide him into our vehicle to demonstrate the computer to the general.
Needless to say, the general left quite embarrassed. Sadly, our full-bird retired early due to pressure from the same general (who strongly hated him after that).
SO, yeah, I'd have to say your token general was lying and/or ignorant, just like you.
