Possible Clues:

• Dampen flax, e.g.
• No longer employed: Abbr
• Gen. Colin Powell, e.g.
• No longer doing the job?: Abbr.
• Like Gen. Franks
• No longer playing: Abbr.
• Prepare jute
• Like many a gen. or maj.
• Soak flax, e.g.
• Rocks, so to speak