The Argentine army has 48 active generals, and with a few exceptions they regard the nation's politics and policies as wide open to comment, advice and meddling. Last week President Pedro Aramburu, who (though he is a general himself) believes that the army's functions should be confined to national defense, sacked at least 12 meddlesome generals, including the army commander, and appeared ready to dismiss even more.
Disaffection among high army officers has plagued Aramburu ever since he came to power a year ago. Most ominously, a segment of ultranationalistic top officers, scoffing at Aramburu's ban on military candidacies, has...