U.S. military senior leadership listen as President Donald Trump speaks at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025 in Quantico, Va.  AP Photo/Evan Vucci

When the news broke last week that basically the entirety of US military leadership — some 800 Admirals, Generals and senior enlisted personnel, many serving overseas — had been ordered to attend an in-person briefing by the Secretary of Defense, it seemed clear to me this was going to a watershed moment.

I was sure the messag...