The article discusses the silencing of military experts in Belgium, particularly focusing on the case of Tom Simoens, a military historian who stopped giving interviews after receiving negative feedback from the army leadership. This action contradicts the new Defense Minister's policy aimed at ending the army's traditional silence ('la grande muette').
Minister Francken's policy promotes open communication from military experts to inform the public and improve the army's image. However, several experts have faced criticism or reprimands for their public statements, including those differing from the official line on issues such as the F-35's kill switch.
Experts feel their academic freedom is being constrained. While not officially banned from speaking, they are seemingly only allowed to convey messages that serve the army's interests. This has led to concerns about the balance between informing the public and maintaining military loyalty. The article highlights the tension between a professor's role and their role as a military personnel.
The army is considering new guidelines that may require experts to seek approval before speaking to the media, potentially limiting their ability to comment on current events. Some experts threaten to stop cooperating with journalists altogether if these guidelines become too restrictive.