It was not just the chief of staff. Two more generals removed.
Chief of Staff and Two More
In addition to U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is also removing and forcing the retirement of Gen. David M. Hodne, a Former Army Ranger who leads the Army Transformation and Training Command (T2COM), and Maj. Gen. William Green Jr., the Chief of the Army’s Chaplain Corps, as Hegseth and his team escalate their long-running feud with Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll, who reports indicate may soon be departing the Trump Administration.
What’s Up?
Shanaka Anslem Perera Explains
JUST IN: You do not fire your Army Chief of Staff in the middle of a war for no reason. You fire him because of what comes next.
Pete Hegseth called General Randy George on April 2 and told him to retire immediately. The Pentagon confirmed it within hours. No reason was given. Not publicly. Not privately. A senior Army official told Fox News that Hegseth offered George nothing: no misconduct, no operational failure, no policy disagreement on the record. Just a phone call and a career ending in the middle of the most significant American combat operation in two decades.
George is the 24th general or admiral Hegseth has removed. But he is not the 24th. He is the one that matters. The Army Chief of Staff. The man whose signature sits between a president’s intent and the order that sends soldiers across a beach or into a tunnel complex.
The 82nd Airborne is deploying right now. Marines from the 31st MEU are staged on the USS Tripoli. JSOC operators are at forward bases in Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Kharg Island, 90 percent of Iranian oil exports, sits 16 kilometres off a coast that someone will have to decide whether to approach. And the four-star general whose job it was to advise whether that approach should happen was removed 48 hours after Trump told the nation the war would continue for two to three more weeks.
The replacement is Vice Chief General Christopher LaNeve. He was Hegseth’s senior military aide before this appointment.
The man who carried the Secretary’s briefcase now commands the Army the Secretary is reshaping. The chain of command did not break. It shortened. The distance between a television studio and a combat order just collapsed to zero intermediaries who were not personally selected by the man giving the order.
No reason was given. That is the tell. When someone is removed without explanation during a crisis, the explanation is the crisis itself. George either objected to something or was about to. The ground option. The power plant strikes. The Kharg raid. The escalation that turned a highway bridge in Karaj into rubble on the same day he was told to leave. Something in the next two weeks requires a chief who will not push back, and the Pentagon solved that problem by installing one trained as Hegseth’s aide.
A former Fox News weekend host just fired a four-star general with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, replaced him with his own former assistant, and did it during a live war in which the next decision could put American soldiers on Iranian soil for the first time in history.
No hearing was held. No misconduct cited. The Army woke up on April 3 with a new chief it did not choose, in a war it did not start, preparing for a phase the previous chief apparently could not be trusted to execute.
The question is not why George was fired. Every general in the building knows why. The question is what order is coming in the next fourteen days that required removing the one man in the chain of command who might have said no. The war has no perimeter. The chain of command has no objectors. And the next phase has no one left to stop it.
Critical Mass
More Threats
The War Is Going So Well That …
Wow. Thanks to all whose posts on X that I included.
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April 2, 2026: Front Month Oil Futures Surge in Wild Trade. Trump Caused This.
Front month oil futures rocketed higher today with US oil higher than Brent.
April 2, 2026: Trump Fires Attorney General Pam Bondi. Why Did She Fail?
When and why did Bondi fail? I have the answers below.
Why any sympathy to these officers who provided fake reports about their work in Afghanistan so that they could get their combat pay and tank promotions?
BBC is reporting the Speaker of Iran’s Parliament said this in a post on X:
“After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from ‘regime change’ to ‘Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?’”
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus, going on before. Trump, the royal Master,
leads against the foe; forward into battle,
see his banners go! On big 4-door, 4WD pickups. Mostly owned by cubicle workers.
Jesus didn’t come back for the first attacks, so they’ll do a big one on Easter. Surely he’ll come back if they bomb Iran hard enough on easter.
“Blessed are the pacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “ (Mat. 5:9)
The corollary is that warmongers are damned and will be called the spawn of satan.
One possible reason – that makes sense to me – is that they refused to follow some command either on grounds it was illegal, immoral or just plain wrong.
Iran’s Mehr news agency is reporting that a US helicopter, on a search mission for the F-15E jet shot down in Iran, was also hit by a projectile.
When is Hegseth shown the door. Taco loves to fire those who do his disgusting and dirty work. Hopefully, one of these days, he will be shown the door before it is too late.
“ he will be shown the door before it is too late.”
How is this possible????
Do you have a time machine that can go into the past?
Maybe they didn’t catch this?
https://youtu.be/UZpkU6hrzcM?si=2lNeIjWg9G5U-v2l
The Trumpies are systematically destroying everything that has made this country great: its foreign alliances; the professional military; the politically independent DOJ; the independent Fed; and even the White House building is going to be defaced by a monstrous ballroom. Hard to see how the country will recover from this institutional carnage.
It was never going to recover….
And now the world hating the U.S. for the coming global depression.
The future for most Americans is a deteriorating quality of life, higher costs, lower goods and services, healthcare nightmares, shortages, etc.
Got exit strategy?
80 M plus boomers are not “socialist leech”…but the millennial WOKE driven generation are a leech…
Ok, Boomer.
Wipe the spittle off the screen, have an Ensure, and calm your flappy old tits.
Only one(bad) exit strategy:inflation at any cost.
People just forget about debt,but debt commands everything.
I think that I saw that country in a movie.
There is now a non-zero chance of a coup overthrowing the Secretary of War Crimes and his boss
From your fingertips to God’s eyes.
maybe he’s not happy about working for. guy that giddily brags about blowing up bridges and other civilian infrastructure?
The ones canned are not, to my knowledge, in operational roles. It is said that Hegeth had different ideas about future Army so there was already tension but it appears this is mostly about them not cancelling the four promotions (two black, two women) that Hegseth asked for. Hegseth again showing he is not ready for prime time (or even syndication) by creating this drama in the middle of the Iran operation.
History is repeating itself, this is like Vietnam in 1965. LBJ had no strategy to win the war, so they kept escalating. That is exactly what is going on here. In the end the result will be the same.
And at the same time the US is confirming its image as a nation of unmitigated despicable criminal scoundrels and mass-murderers of civilians, breaking all resemblance of international law and order, something the UN was created for after WW2. A rogue state. It will take more than a generation to undo the harm these two figures are causing. As usual it’s the opposite of what Joe Average and the generally peace-loving population wants, like in any war – the only thing they have to expect is returning from the front with an arm and a leg missing. However, the clearly satanic freemason and zionist influencers pulling the strings from the background simply couldn’t care less – fulfilling their master’s orders. Not much hope of the military to wake up – breaking and making them brain-dead is part of the system as documented in Kubricks “Full Metal Jacket” a few decades ago. Also highly likely the reason for imposing the toxic gene injection well knowing there would be countless casualties – deaths and life-long mutilated. The gene shot is known to weaken independent thinking.
“Damaging civilian infrastructure is a war crime. Illegal. Never mind. Our leaders ignore the law. After all, it is not the first time the US and Israel behaved this way and got away with it.
One wonders why Hegseth had to fire the Army Chief of Staff yesterday–what is (former alcoholic) Hegseth planning next that he might have gotten pushback on?”
https://merylnass.substack.com/p/damaging-civilian-infrastructure?
No pushback against boneheaded leadership allowed. Er, excuse me, bonespured leadership.
BREAKING: F-15E shot down over Iran
From the WSJ: “After a U.S. jet fighter went down over Iran, state television said Iranians would be rewarded for finding any American crewmembers and turning them over alive. State broadcaster IRIB said people in the country’s southwest had gone to the crash site in their own cars to capture the pilot. It said the military called on them not to harm the pilot.”
Reports from Iran are that it was a F-35 US jet shot down (differs from other claims it was a F-15). Iran is also saying they shot down an Israeli F-16 yesterday.
US just confirmed an F-15E jet was shot down over Iran
Well that military parade Trump wanted might materialize yet.
I would NOT want to be that pilot. No help will come for him, from anywhere.
Crap gps does not help After 16 years and $8 billion, the military’s new GPS software still doesn’t work“It’s a very stressing program. We are still considering how to ensure we move forward.”
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/03/after-16-years-and-8-billion-the-militarys-new-gps-software-still-doesnt-work/
Insight into the firing of Bondi explains the firing of George
Insufficient loyalty of the fired person, determined via their inability to ignore or change the facts (laws) of reality
The person who actually rubs up against reality in the world is fired because they didn’t confirm the delusion
.…The stunt further thrust the topic of Epstein—which Trump hoped to avoid—into the news. But that wasn’t what ultimately cost Bondi her job. Rather, it was Trump’s perception that she was a weak attorney general, unable to sufficiently prosecute his perceived enemies. Multiple people familiar with the president’s thinking said that the failed efforts to prosecute New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, among others, were a particular source of anger. Bondi was perceived by the president as lacking “smarts and guts,” as one person told us….
Politics disguised as economics again. Come on Mish use the tags you have, or get rid of them.
If you think this war does not affect all aspects o global economics? Whew!
How do you want to prepare economically for a protracted ground war in Iran?
If you don’t think this war is affecting the US and world economies, you should probably stay away from investments
Trump is either stupid, crazy, or evil.
I hope it is stupid. But I think it is evil.
It might be a combination of all three.
Plus dementia is starting to set in. By the end of his term (if he makes it that long) his brain will be just like Biden’s.
Biden was always the smarter of the two, and the only thing that keeps Trumpstien jabbering steadily is amphetamines.
I would love to see what the White House pharmacy has been ordering.
I personally dont think he’s stupid. But he is very ignorant, in the sense of understanding history, culture and human folly. He just hasn’t read many books or educated himself be ause he’s a know it all
All three but the bigger question is what is the predominant factor in those that voted for him. Racism and Evil mocked up as Christianity is my vote.
He needs yes-men, not generals.
We will find out if this removal is because of a land invasion, war crimes to.commit, or preparation for nuclear strikes.
That last option is becoming more likely each week.
Generals are yes men by definition. They brown nosed and shot at brown children all the way up.
The Army Chief of Staff was fired for several reasons. The biggest reason is that he could think and act independently from Trump. He wouldn’t remove two blacks and two women from the promotion list as Hegseth had requested. He probably wouldn’t commit war crimes, which Trump has laid an excellent paper trail for everyone to see. He probably would object to sending a lot of soldiers into danger for no apparent gain. He probably had integrity which is kryptonite to people like Trump and Hegseth. Trump has to remove integrity from anywhere in his vicinity otherwise he appears diminished.
You do know what the word probably means, don’t you? While looking that up, may I suggest you look up “straw man”?
As of current time, you had 8 people up vote. Amazing, probably.
It definitely is NOT a straw man argument because I didn’t misrepresent anyone else’s argument. In fact your response is a straw man argument because you misrepresented my critique as a straw man. My argument isn’t any of the common false rhetorical devices. You could classify it as “conjecture” since I am saying (and even if I didn’t say “probably”) what the fired chief of staff probably wouldn’t do and no one knows for certain (at least now). Since no one knows for certain that is why I said “probably”. You can’t even classify my argument as “ad hominem” because a major point IS Trump’s character.
What is amazing is your thought process.
The shift to targetting civilian (“dual-use”) infrastructure has begun with the destruction of the B1 bridge and two other bridges today. Trump has made it perfectly clear that he intends to escalate further to targeting other infrastructure previously considered off limits, like electrical power plants. Anyone in the army who might have objected to this escalation into the realm of possible war crimes had to be gotten rid of. I doubt these will be the last generals to go.
This war is a month old with no end in sight. As Trump begins his stated goal of attacking Iran’s infrastructure, Iran will respond by attacking similar infrastructure in neighbouring countries.
Boots on the ground will not help. It will only make things worse.
Trump will repeatedly claim that Iran has nothing left to fight with, while Iran keeps firing missiles and drones for as long as the war continues.
As infrastructure on both sides gets destroyed the impact on the region will be devastating. Without power and water, millions could be displaced in many of the Persian Gulf countries.
With the continuation of supply chain disruption, the global economy is heading into a recession.
The price of oil and refined products will remain high for a long time. Shortages will be common in poorer areas that cannot afford to pay the prices that some can still afford.
And Trump will keep asking for his peace prize.
If this numskull and his Zionist overloads actually try boots on the ground it’s going to be insane.
As the Middle East gets destroyed, Russia gets stronger.
Is this Trumps intent?
If Trump really wanted to help Russia, all he need do is cancel ISR and intelligence assistance tot he Kiev regime.
Is not going to happen…”the little jew from Kiev”- who is able to sell sand to Sahara-is having the WOKE driven European leaders in his pockets…
Ah. The Kremlin intern is here too. Even throwing in some hint at jew hating so the topic can be easily changed when people point out how wrong he is. Truth is that Ukraine is keeping Russia out for 1500 days straight. One of the saddest military displays ever, it is incredible to Watch Russia show of it’s incompetence so thoroughly.
Agent Krasnov is a dutiful lapdog for his master Putin.
“As infrastructure on both sides gets destroyed the impact on the region will be devastating. Without power and water, millions could be displaced in many of the Persian Gulf countries.”
Yes, but Israel need only stretch out its hand and the Americans will fill it. For his part, Trump continues to live The Good Life and Epstein stays out of the news.
Sure, others must suffer and die, but why should Trump or Israel care as long as they are fine?
Rational selfish hedonism taken to its logical extreme, stripped of all the romantic sugar-coating.
With some US Special Forces units already in the region, and with thousands more Marines and Sailors en route, and after Trump earlier floated at least two to three more weeks of major strikes on Iran, the president on Friday morning wrote on Truth Social that “with a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE…
This as the question of some kind of direct ground intervention, likely starting with strategic islands near the Strait, could be unfolding.
==== off topic a bit
OUR stable genius in -orange, again
does this moron understand that THERE IS NO OIL DIRECTLY ON THOSE ISLANDS?
IT IS export point!
=====
when USA sends grains into china via LA port , grain did not grow and was not harvested in LA! it is just point for delivery!
jesus!!!!!!
It means the woke liberal TDS mindvirus has infected the highest levels of the military!
Jk
The generals dork want to commit non stop war crimes like Hegseth and Trump
Nukes. Israel wants Iran destroyed. They want Trump to do it.
In about 3 weeks.
“What’s it mean?”
Pretty easy to answer. Trump stupidly got us involved in a war that isn’t going anywhere near what he thought would happen. Oil & gas prices have spiked across the globe. Trump’s approval ratings have collapsed.
“Let’s fire some generals…they’re the problem” “I can’t be wrong”
I expect more people to be canned.
Or the generals had told Hegseth and his boss that the military had been gaming out an Iran war for decades and it never was a good idea.
Naturally, their first instinct was to shoot the messenger when things went exactly as the generals predicted.
Persians aren’t Arabs. They’ve had decades to prepare this, they knew what was at stake – watching the Gaza genocide unfold in slow motion with the world looking on – and they have their alliances set up. USIS will get their teeth knocked in. And hundreds of millions – all those dependent on shipments from the ME – probably billions will suffer, including famines in many zones. All deliberate.
That’s what they were opposing. Not a good omen.
Thinking outside the box:
Another perspective is that the US is taking (by force) energy resources from the Middle East/Asia and directing them west for the benefit of the Americas and Europe, Americans and Europeans (and those that sell them).
The US fracking boom has resulted in a surge in our energy independence. But we all know that depletion rates are ruthlessly high. What if the US only has 10 – 15 years of hydrocarbons left?
I am reminded of a classic lyric by Bob Dylan; “You just wanna be on the side that’s winning”.
We in America are technically on the side that is “Winning”, but what if “These are the good old daze”?
Generally false.
We have NG independence, relatively, because NG is more local.
But oil certainly isn’t – The tell is WTIC and Brent move together.
Even NG is not totally independent due to LNG exports.
And we need to be careful, when do limits of fracking kick in.
The limits on fracking is the price of oil. And since that has gone up it will mean more fracking if the oil companies feel that the price will remain high for several years.
Another good point, natural gas is a co-product and requires capture and transportation. We exported 149 billion cu ft last week!
“And we need to be careful, when do limits of fracking kick in.”
That is the core of my post. Fracked wells deplete shockingly fast.
A decade or so ago, I managed a small inherited oil/gas royalty stream through a real live Landman near Nagcodoches.
There were two layers of pay in two wells. At first they were prolific producers, but 18 months later the royalties became negligible.
And yes “Winning” is speculative and subjective.
Thanks for stimulating so much thought and providing this forum for discussion of economic geo-politics!
Shockingly fast is an accurate description. The decline curve shown here is indeed shocking to anyone not familiar with the realities of production from shale reservoirs.
https://www.eia.gov/analysis/drilling/curve_analysis/
Fracking does not alter the hydrocarbons in place; it increases the surface area exposed to the wellbore making possible increased production rate with proper lift/surface equipment.
In this scenario ~ US forces “only” need to take and defend the land west of the Main Zagros Thrust belt (because thats where the oil is). They do not need to take the whole country, but Kharg is not enough.
Truly, a daunting task…
look another arm chair strategist
buddy, how is that thing in iraq doing? Vietnam ?
I would think Kharg IS enough. Could you expound?
Kharg is useless without a supply of oil from inland. If Israel wants the oil Trump has to take the resources for them.
Actually it is our soldiers and the taxpayers.
Armed robbery, it is.
Someday this war’s gonna end.
Its pretty obvious that Trump and his minion morons have taken the bait/walked into the trap in Iran. Just whistling their bullshit while they walk into calamity. Iran is going to keep them trapped until Trump gets hammered politically. The moron has inadvertently made Iran a world power by giving it control of the oil price. What an idiot
Alot of credible news sources that are not US based, are reporting a totally different reality on the ground from what US Citizens hear.
Probably the good general was using facts and data in his arguments on strategy but the king baby didn’t like the message so Stoogeseth had to protect the fantasy
All you need to know:
World War II Era (approx. 1945)
Today (2025–2026)
The military is considered more top-heavy today, with a higher ratio of General/Flag Officers (GO/FOs) to personnel than during WWII.
1 trln military budget!
you dont want some low ranks to piss off all that money
it is what generals are for!
General Electric and General Motors aren’t what they used to be, either.
There were waaayyyy more than 7-13 4 stars in the US, esp late in the war. Patton, Bradley, Ike, Tooey Spaatz, Devers, Dugout Doug, Handy, “Courtney”, Wainwright, awful Mark Clarke, Kenney, Somerville, Hap Arnold, Vinegar Joe Stillwell, Mcnarney, to name some, and that’s just in the Army and AAF. Add Navy with people like Nimitz (4 and then 5 star) Bull Halsey, Kimmell, King, Ingersoll, Spruance, etc and then Vandegrift for the Marines. And there are others, I just got tired of typing names. Probably around 30 or maybe a bit more but I didn’t do an exhaustive count.
And yes a few of the names made five stars like Ike, Nimitz, Dugout Doug and Hap Arnold, but the point is there were way more senior officers in WWII than you claim.
I’ll say as a percentage of the military there are more senior officers today, but it may be more top heavy otoh there are a lot more diverse leadership roles now (for example there was no independent Air Force in WWII and Space Force wasn’t even a consideration).
Could leadership be more efficient today? Possibly. But a gross comparison of senior leadership as a percentage of armed forces size is an apples to oranges comparison IMO.
Is Trump Purging Generals Opposed to a Ground War in Iran, or is it Something Bigger?
https://larrycjohnson.substack.com/p/is-trump-purging-generals-opposed
Good write-up!
Purging – fully coordinated with Susie Wiles. (Smacks head) Mein Gott, how much does a Chief of Staff (read head of office personnel) know about war strategy…
That didn’t make any sense to me. The argument was that they might be trying to just replace lightning rod figures because of bad polling… but who thought the Army Chief of Staff was a lightning rod for criticism?
Getting ready to use military to overthrow US government.
What’s to overthrow – it’s mostly under his thumb.
Our precious Marines and infantry will be slaughtered if sent into this theater of the absurd. The despicable Hegeseth has arbitrarily and capriciously replaced General George with what amounts to Caligula’s horse. The only thing that is missing is John Belusi with pencils stuck up his nose; except that this is a tragedy not a comedy. God bless our troops. God save our country.
“Suckers & losers”
I have no sympathy for them.
We’re taking this escalation trap route that somehow, magically, Trump and Hegseth believe that in “two weeks” we arrive at a stable point that justifies all efforts
Not gonna happen
Hegseth is following the script from Fox News per BiBi’s directives to use US soldiers and military to take over Irans oil.
The MAGA Kool-Aid will soon taste like the blood of American soldiers.
Dying for Israel which refuses to put its own in harms way.
Millions will die in Iran and 3 billion will face food shortages.
Yes, but Trump will continue to live like a king and Epstein will stay out of the news, which is all that Trump cares about.
Last I checked, The Defense Secretary is the head of the U.S. Department of Defense. i.e. Pete Hegseth, who serves as the principal defense policy advisor to the president. His primary roles are to overseeing military strategy, personnel, and budgetary issues. This role is crucial in ensuring the military is prepared to defend the nation and implement defense policies.
So with that role in mind, he has to rely on his Generals (most, if not all, appointed by the prior Defense Secretary) to carry out his Strategy. Well the situation he is in, is a new territory of conflict. Unlike anything past American Defense Secretaries have had to deal with.
I have to assume, at the moment anyway, that Pete didn’t like some of his Generals approach or total understanding of this never before seen type of operation. After speaking with many of his military leaders, he realized he had to weed out some of the more unprepared, less seasoned and most importantly, very unfamiliar with what’s truly going on. In his private meeting with the President and other leaders, they determined who were the best fit for this particular operation. Some Generals just didn’t make the cut for very good reasons, I am certain.
We also need General’s that have been engaged is this sort of undertaking, and the list is obviously very small, for this never performed, in this type of operation, situation. So Pete selected the Generals he thought would do the best job for America, and Trump agreed with him obviously. This is not new, as they have been reshaping (purging) the top leadership for awhile now. They are reshaping the Military into A War Machine, and some just don’t get it, and have to go. Peacetime leaders may not be prepared for engagement and decision making is all…
Not much to see here, so move along… much bigger issues going on than the selection of war leaders for the current situation. I am much more interested in the Strategy, and desired outcome. I know we won’t know, but that’s the bone in this dog fight!!! Some more officers will come and go as this heats up, and heads towards a finish of some kind. From a very long line of family members in the Military, this is just simple policy procedure for this situation. No different than when the President comes in and picks his new cabinet of leaders, so does the Defense Secretary.
Delusional
Could you be more specific please.
Do you hear voices? Any visual hallucinations ? What medications are you currently taking? It’s hard to diagnose mental illness without some background information.
It’s much simpler, he’s extremely low IQ. He has no level of introspection and is a walking embodiment of Dunning-Kruger effect.
– Do you hear voices? > Not messaging, but on the phone I do.
– Any visual hallucinations ? > in the early 70’s.
– What medications are you currently taking? > I don’t.
– It’s hard to diagnose mental illness without some background information. > you got what you asked for?
Of course leaders want subordinates that effectively carry out their orders
But what happens when a mad leader does not believe the rational subordinates?
Which one is mad, or are you saying both of them are? It’s important.
haha, I like your use of irony.
The only sane comment in this thread.
you can always go fr11uck yourself (figuratively)
and post on some fox_and_friends_for_great_israel bbs!
what is stoppping yo?
I come for the show and stay for the spelling errors.
stu!
in russian lang, there is a saying
brevity is sister of talent.. use those words as is!
He is an only child
In Fortune Cookie I once read “ALX” Make No Sense. I finally know what it meant, after all these years! Thank You!
Shanaka Anslem Perera is one of my favorite ECONOMIC writers. The quoted excerpt reminds me an expert in one field is not necessarily an expert in all fields. Even they forget this distinction.
The Army Chief of Staff is not in the chain of command between the President and the geographical commanders. The COCOM, CENTCOM in this case, takes orders from the President. This fundamental error by Perera is not uncommon but highlights a lack of understanding.
Stu, you moved up to my favorite commentator here.
Absurd.
Have you read George’s resume? I’ll help – Gulf War, Iraq War, Afghan War, Purple Heart, 4 Bronze stars and a ton of service medals for distinguished service. Enlisted in 1982 and then went to the Academy to earn his commission in 1988. Various commands of increasing responsibility, including multiple tours of combat in Infantry and Airborne units. Over 40 years of total service.
In other words, a real warrior, not Hogbreath insane vision of a Christian crusader who can do 80 pullups while drunk off his ass.
No let’s do Hogsbreath. Major in the Guard with two tours of duty as a civil affairs officer and less than 10 years of service, with two bronze stars for ‘meritorious service’ (not for combat Valor).
But yeah, somehow the least qualified Secretary of Defense in history is able to clearly determine that George is unqualified to successfully prosecute this war, and it’s NOT due to George having a measure of honor and pushing back on the sketchy prosecution of this war (excuse me, this ‘excursion’).
If George is not qualified to run this war, then there is no one qualified to run it.
The man served for “44 Years” and I think a lot may have changed since then. No doubt he was a great general of his time, but don’t you think someone new might be a better choice at this point in time?
There is a reason a “Great President “ can only serve 8 Years in office. I am actually surprised George was allowed to serve so long. As an advisor absolutely, but are you saying he has been in battle? and in the field? and up to speed on all military operations? etc. for all those years? Makes a difference, but he still should be removed if Hegseth thinks so, as he is in charge now.
Did you not read what I wrote about his resume? Are you seriously saying that 40 plus years of actual applicable real world combat and leadership experience is a hindrance?
I can rattle off great generals in history who had a ton of experience that led to their leadership success in major conflicts – think Ike, Patton, Marshall, McCarthur, Schwarzkopf, McCaffery, etc. And that’s with almost zero effort on my part. I could give more examples if I really dug into it, but you get my point. Contrast that with the Civil War where there were a bunch of political appointees, or inexperienced leaders with only a small amount of experience – Burnside, Banks, Benjamin Butler, PGT beauregard, and again that’s with little thought. The competent generals were mostly ones who had real experience, mainly in the Mexican American War – RE Lee, Grant, both Johnstons, etc.
You seriously don’t know military history or how the military works if you think that Gen George’s resume actually disqualifies him from his office.
Don’t make things up. I said it may be time for a new General in charge, as things change over time.
I will say it again: There is a reason “Great Presidents” only serve for 8 Years.
I think there could be a reason or two, why Generals shouldn’t serve for more than 40 Years.
On the other hand, they would make for an excellent “Advisor” I would guess.
I’m not making things up. I’m rattling historical facts that I already know off the top of my head. My point is that I could easily come up with a lot more examples if I did more additional research. However, every example I gave is factual; look it up yourself if you don’t believe me.
The military has, and has had for most of its existence, rules on how long someone can serve. They have mandatory retirement ages based on how long someone has served and what rank they are.
George was less than 2 years into what is normally defined as a 4-year assignment. You don’t get assigned to an assignment if you are too old to serve it out, this is most especially true in a senior leadership assignment.
Generals can serve over 40 years and they hit mandatory retirement ages based on the above facts. George is in his early 60s and below retirement age. A general is not a president, and the retirement ages for military leaders is well established, well understood and based on historic precedence. Those rules are based on well-established criteria that takes physical and mental ability in mind, as well as rank, and resume. George is still within the boundaries of those criteria.
There is a ton of precedence for military leaders serving to or beyond George’s age. Many of them were still great generals who were very competent at their age – Patton was 60 when he died, Ike was 62 when he relinquished his command as Allied Army European commander, MacCarthur was in in his 60s in WWII and 71 in Korea in 1951, Nimitz served well into his 60s, etc.
You clearly don’t understand how this works in the military; I am guessing that you never served and that you haven’t studied military history, otherwise you wouldn’t make the claims that you make.
applicable US code
“10 U.S. Code § 1253: Mandatory retirement age for general and flag officers is age 64. Officers in O9 and O10 positions may have retirement deferred until age 66 by the SECDEF or until age 68 by the President.”
George is definitely below retirement age as an O10. He was appointed to his current assignment at ~59.
He is within the age, but mind is another matter. Even if he went through all the cognitive test and passed, he still should be removed if Hegseth thinks so, as he is in charge now, and his title is “The Boss”
When he works for you, keep him onboard until 68? If the President agrees with you, but for now it’s a moot point! Bye bye George…
This is the escalation game that a responsible General may have forseen
Iran’s list of targeted bridges has been released. This is like a fight in a mall where everyone hopes for a limited response and then the oaf overturns the wrong shelf of goods
Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Bridge
36 km over water. Kuwait’s northern lifeline. No alternative route.
King Fahd Causeway
ONLY road between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. US Fifth Fleet logistics depend on it.
Sheikh Zayed Bridge
1 of 3 links to Abu Dhabi island.
Al Maqta Bridge
2 of 3 links to Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Khalifa Bridge
3 of 3 links to Abu Dhabi island. ALL exits named.
King Hussein Bridge
Jordan’s primary West Bank crossing.
Damia Bridge
Jordan’s secondary crossing.
Abdoun Bridge
Amman’s central traffic artery.
8 bridges. 4 countries. ZERO redundancy. ZERO bridge defense doctrine.
Whenever I read or hear someone refer to the “laws of war”, it evokes the harshest, most derisive laugh. Prepare to embrace the suck because empire is angry, afraid and drunk as hell.
The more accurate term is “suggestions of war”. They are necessary to protect our troops mental health. Using the word law is deceptive.
No, they are a moral figleaf. Nothing more.
And don’t forget Trump’s 2027 budget is reportedly going to request $1.5 trillion for defense.
These assholes are gearing up for something big.
McCaffrey’s comment…
…Integrity. Experienced combat leader. Solid judgement. Courage. Modesty. Takes care of soldiers….
Every reason why he was fired is in that comment
The new leaders in control: amateurs in denial of reality; proven lack of judgement; bone spurs crowd; braggadocio personified; eager to sacrifice soldiers for stupidity
A man with those credentials should be no where near this pile of excrement and the f*ckwits in DC. History is going to be rightly harsh on Hogsbreath and Governor Trump.
Kharg Island on tap – Hague Regulations (1907), Article 42 states: “Territory is considered occupied when it is actually placed under the authority of the hostile army. The occupation extends only to the territory where such authority has been established and can be exercised.”
Once U.S. forces exercise effective control over Kharg Island (i.e., they can enforce their authority and the Iranian government can no longer do so), the island becomes occupied territory under the laws of war. The label “military occupation” is not a political description—it is the automatic legal status triggered by facts on the ground. No declaration is required.
Historical precedent confirms this can easily span “many years”:
The law does not require the occupier to leave on any calendar date. It ends only when effective control ceases or a political settlement (peace treaty, armistice with withdrawal terms, etc.) is reached.
=Kharg Island
whats is your point , man? in jeff lebowski voice!
Hegseth has repeatedly signaled he wants to purge “woke” generals tied to the Biden era / Hegseth has publicly vowed to eliminate leaders he views as resistant to Trump’s vision (DEI rollback, rapid modernization, loyalty over institutional norms)
This is not isolated. Hegseth has removed or sidelined more than two dozen (some counts exceed 26) high-ranking officers since 2025, including:
More alarming it appears you’re late to the news on this Mish, you asleep in 2025?
. Kharg Island, 90 percent of Iranian oil exports, sits 16 kilometres off a coast that
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it is NOT RELATED TO Mish posting
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enough already w/ island bullshit!
it is same script as i predicted. as if it means anything!
USA can bomb pipes that connect island and mainland, and-or bomb tankers off island filled w/ oil.
it would be same effect w/out taking over island!
TAKING ISLAND IS JUST FILLER FOR trump;s admin, and mass media
alx
Alx – you been on the vodka again?
I think the key thing for Trump is getting some kind of leverage (against the regime and China). Blowing stuff up and the threat of blowing more stuff up is a form of leverage.
But there is a theory being discussed that the administration sees some form of land incursion/occupation as necessary leverage. Ithink the sacking of this General is key (although circumstantial) evidence that it is being discussed.
=you been on the vodka again?
google what projection is .
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what leverage mor1on? did you read the post?
get lost , uneducated peasant !
alx
Surprise, surprise, “America First” meant “Trump First.”
xxx
actually, Netanyahu first.
It’s somewhat reminiscent of what happened in the final years of the USSR, so vividly described by Alexander Zinoviev in his novels. In all power structures, a leader’s worst enemy is the one directly below him in the hierarchy who demonstrates superior competence and intelligence. This individual must therefore be eliminated and replaced by someone inferior.
This leads to the establishment of a complete idiocracy. It significantly strengthens the system’s stability, except in the case of a major crisis where exceptional skills are required.
In all power structures, a leader’s worst enemy is the one directly below him in the hierarchy who demonstrates superior competence and intelligence
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bs!. it was just his theory.
facts are : nobody was eliminated or replaced by someone inferior , esp after Stalin death ! pretty much apparatus lived by itself..
after ww2 USSR was first in space, nuclear race ,and ruled most of world outside USA, including most of central/east Europe!
it was hardly done by by someone inferior !
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main problem by end of USSR (1980xx ) was ignorance and indifference.
just everybody just cared for himself, and only problem was do no get caught w/ anything ! so lying was rampant about everything!!
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btw, it might be surprise to you BUT PRETTY MUCH EVERY leader of USSR/comm. party lived and died peacefully: starting w./ lenin, stalin, etc
on other hand, in USA 2 presidents were shot in 20th century
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of course we have to take into account great purge in 1930xxx..
so many PEOPLE ranks below were killed, but that was political decision by Stalin. nothing personal!
alx
I don’t know about Soviet times, but the dynamic of placing incompetent people at all posts in the government appears to be clearly happening right now in Russia, and has done so for the last 15 years or so. The failings in the Ukraine invasion made that quite visible for the rest of the world.
And why would Soviet times have been different?
I am not at all convinced that the invasion of Ukraine was a failure. I see incompetence everywhere in the West, starting with the omnipresence of justifications for competence through ludicrous university degrees like “political science”. This is particularly evident in my country, France, where engineers, who used to be the majority among decision-makers, have been replaced by “political scientists”, among whom you find people who are practically illiterate, even among the ministers. We recently realized that one of them, Benjamin Haddad, couldn’t even locate Iran on a map.
= at all convinced that the invasion of Ukraine was a failure
dont bother..
he-she is a moron. has no a clue!
companies, like countries, begin a downward slope when the doers, the builders, get replaced by the bean counters.
Putinov has clearly surrounded himself with master military strategists at the top of their game. NOT.
how is $40 trln in debt and $3 trln gov deficit and $1 trln trade deficit doing ?
Why don’t you ask an American ???
You can’t be this dumb.
Can you ????
all posts in the government appears to be clearly happening right now in Russia, and has done so for the last 15 years or so. The failings in the Ukraine invasion made that quite visible for the rest of the world
===
sure . 20 years in Afghanistan and Iraq and $10 trln SPENT WAS GREAT SUCCESS for USA!
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buddy, at least Russia controls 25% of ukraine,
6 nuclear reactors ( 50 bil and 15 years to build)
Azov sea,
Crimea,
industrial east,
all air space above. not a single airplane flew in or out for last 4 years
what USA is good for in iraq?
=And why would Soviet times have been different?
i dont know !
might be despite all those sanctions Russia economy grows, #4 in world, and way ahead of Germany or japan! (ppp wise, imf figures)
and i am not even talking about midgets like gb or france!
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problem for you western mor11ons you dont have a clue ABOUT Russia and-or economy!
watching cnn or read Blomberg won;t make you expert
so that is why you are always in shocked state lately!
alx
Mate. You have an economy the size of Italy. Russia produces nothing of value and lives off selling its natural resources. The population is declining and all its institutions set new records for corruption. Watching it crumble in real time is fascinating.
We can quibble over whether it happened in Russia, but as far as the quote below, it is spot on. I have lived it as the one just below who is more competent and intelligent than the fucking dipshit at the top, who got there by always saying yes, never saying no, trying to be everybody’s friend, never rocking the boat, always going along to get along, and trying to part of the giant circle-jerk of self-licking ice cream cones who think the brown stuff on the cone is chocolate ice cream. They’ve gotten away with it because to date the organization we work in has never faced a major crisis but now it is starting to. The tide is going out and we will start to see who has been swimming naked.
“In all power structures, a leader’s worst enemy is the one directly below him in the hierarchy who demonstrates superior competence and intelligence. This individual must therefore be eliminated and replaced by someone inferior.”
The degeneration we are experiencing has now reached a global and epoch level. Very few wish to talk about what the impending Great Reset really involves.
Zinoviev only mentioned and described the final years of the USSR. When he went to the West, he stated that the West was following the same path, and returned to Russia.
he left country in 70x
ussr was closed country! NONE WAS OPEN!
his books are his just his books..
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he knew nothing about ussr ON MACRO LEVEL. nobody knew
he was just peasant and pissed off by living in ussr , rightly so
one thing is see things, and other is EXPLAIN!
Looks like panic is setting in. I guess people aren’t being as compliant as before realising that this clown show will come to an end soon and they will be left picking up the pieces.
This sacking reinforces the idea that some form of land attack is coming (this guy clearly didn’t want to support it).
Top of Trump’s mind right now is going to be his upcoming meeting with Xi and how does he use the Iran situation as leverage. Whilst dumb militarily, does he believe that holding Kharg gives him the upper hand against the Chinese? I can’t see that special forces incursions really has the same effect.
Well you’re a right-to-work-state kinda guy so you must be on a philosophical prong. That said, the own-goal continues.
Looks like Hormuz is back open: “Under New Management”
We take Crypto and Yuan, sorry USD not accepted.
Enjoy your voyage, and don’t forget to visit our gift shop!
REPENT SINNERS
THE END IS NEAR
YOU’VE HEARD OR READ THIS YOUR ENTIRE LIFE….
THIS IS FOR REAL!
GET ON YOUR KNEES AND PRAY FOR FORGIVENESS
ALLAH
OOPS 😬
I MEANT BUDDHA, NO, WAIT.
JEHOVA IS …
NOT HIM…
ME!
I AM THE ONLY GAWD!!!
YOU’LL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE AND 🔥
ENJOY 😉
Off topic, my bad👎
They , THE THEY….
Are getting all the big guns aligned for them. Uh, THEM.
We will be target practice.
The new world order is upon us.
I’ve got an exit strategy.
Do you?
Wrong forum.
After you go, ask a bot to compare and contrast Buddhism with the others.
I’m on the right forum uni….
Whomever has control of the biggest guns wins.
Gegs-breath is in charge of the biggest guns
Forgive my rant about repentance.
You are a lost cause, obviously.
The lake of fire is filled with comrades you’d know!
Don’t resist, join!
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Gonna buy the best taint money can buy!!!
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Let’s ask the Rohingya!
No religion has a monopoly on violence.
They didn’t want to die for Israel enough?
He refused to rubber stamp the suicide mission.
If the ships allowed to pass aren’t trading in dollars then I’d say celebrating the so-called reopening might be premature.