Don’t let the ‘unequal dialogue’ become a partisan one

Those who study civilian-military relations talk frequently about the unequal dialogue between America’s civilian and uniformed leaders. Civilian leaders sit atop the chain of command and have the final word on defense policy and strategy matters. In return, they have the responsibility to respect—in the sense of listen closely to , not defer to —the military advice of those in uniform. Without this respect, the dialogue ceases to be a conversation and becomes a series of partisan orders.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s short-notice, no-explanation summoning of more than 800 general and flag officers from command positions around the world demonstrates a lack of respect for their time and their jobs. It suggests a concomitant lack of respect for their advice.

Perhaps this was un