Thread by @DanLamothe

Sometimes, it's what is not said.

Today, Acting SECDEF Miller announced the Trump administration will cut its number of troops in Afghanistan roughly in half.

He described it as a decision made in consultation with his national security cabinet.

washingtonpost.com/national-secur…

Miller appeared at the podium in the Pentagon alone, without the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joining him.

In the past, that has occurred when a chairman disagrees with a decision made, and the secretary does not want to put a senior officer on the spot.

One might recall, for instance, that when the Obama administration announced it would direct full gender integration of the military, then-chairman Gen. Dunford had reservations.

Ash Carter appeared alone, and later said he didn't want Dunford thrust into politics.

In a call w/ reporters, a senior official described the cut in Afghanistan having agreement from military leaders. But when I mentioned this memo sent by former SECDEF Esper -- written after consultation w/ senior military officials -- there was a shift.

washingtonpost.com/national-secur…

While the official wouldn't address the memo or its contents, he then said the decision was reached after "consultation" with generals. That's different than the recommendation of generals.

I won't wade into what is a good or bad policy decision. But it seems clear the president is carrying this out on his own, with his senior political appointees in line and the generals saluting after their recommendation was disregarded.

A strong case can be made that after 19 years of war, that is very acceptable decision. But so far, they're not embracing this. They're not even really acknowledging it, actually.