Thread by @DefenseBaron

"I don't think there's a rupture in civilian-military relationships," says Joe Votel, retired CENTCOM commander, at @NewAmerica Future of War online panel. Current polarity have brought some underlying divisions to the forefront.

Asked about speaking out on public issues, retired Gen. Votel tells @peterbergencnn, "I thought I could play a role informing and educating" but others have to make their own calls about speaking out.

Votel has written in @DefenseOne, most recently: defenseone.com/ideas/2020/07/…

Flournoy, on defense//military leaders speaking out in politics: "I think it's a very, very individual choice. My view: we need to keep the military apolitical" but need climate that internal dissent is heard, valued. "When you close that off" it leaks into the public domain.

Votel, on troop withdrawals, says troops still needed in Afghanistan to back agreements and in Iraq for the mission. "It has to be driven by the mission"... "when we withdraw quickly, without a plan... we tend to run into problems"

Flournoy, on troop withdrawals says she agrees its possible to drawdown now in Iraq and transition. US wants the same in Afghanistan "but there we're really at a more delicate moment," ... "if the US were to withdraw unilaterally...could undercut" negotiations.

.@peterbergencnn asks Votel if Taliban can be trusted. Gives the most diplomatic answer possible, noting Taliban has attacked to take adv of AFgh gov before, but "They're at the table and they're now talking. This is a move in the right direction".

Last time I was in Afghanistan was with Votel, Jan 2018. As we ate lunch while he was in a mtg, Taliban detonated an ambulance-bomb on other side of base, killing 100 people. W armed escorts we were rushed to our helicopter to take off asap, to make a flight to Kandahar.

On China, Flournoy says bipartisan consensus of problems, not how Trump handles it. "Too tactical," focused on trade, and more recently on tech transfers... but no strategy. Since Nixon, always have had strategic dialogues, including "cooperative agenda" like pandemic, climate.

Flournoy - must compete w China without conflict. "That's a very nuanced approach that will require some pretty strategic thinking, and I think that's been lacking" ... also should be using allies more than unilateral approach.

Votel ranks the Israel-UAE-Bahrain peace deal as "somewhere between medium and really high," when asked to rank them. Cites the Israel-Jordan relationship that's stabilized things. Says more important: "How do we now use this" to rethink Iran, Palestinian peace plan?

Flournoy ranks Trump as commander in chief: "Frankly, I do not think he has the attributes necessary for the job," she answers @peterbergencnn. "One of his weaker areas of job performance."

Flournoy op-ed in @DefenseOne, in June: We Need Joe Biden defenseone.com/ideas/2020/06/…

Bergen: What are chances for peace agreements if Trump loses? Flournoy says bipartisan support. Votel: continuity is important, look at Cold War. "Strategic predictably is a benefit for us" ... says hopeful US stays the course now that GoIRA, Taliban are at the table.

On race in the higher ranks, Flournoy says the entire U.S. military career path from recruitment onward needs to be assessed, "soup to nuts" and sustained leadership focus on it. Gender, too she says.

Votel on diversity in ranks, supports it all, just notes it takes about 16 years to produce a battalion commander. So about the year 2030 you'll begin to see female battalion commanders.