General Diplomacy

Why would Obama send Gen. Dempsey, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , to Israel to confer on policy toward Iran. This very confused administration had a record of mixing roles, but leaving policy discussions up to a general goes beyond the norm.

It could be that no one else is the administration was willing to go, Netanyahu has made it a habit to humiliate civilian members of the administration, including President Drone, and Biden and Clinton or even Panetta might have demurred to put their tattered dignity on the line.


The blurring of lines between civilian and military tasks is becoming even more common in this administration than the last. Putting in Petraeus to head the CIA was emblematic, but sending generals to do diplomacy is an operational choice that shows the confusion that reigns at the top.