Retired General Breaks Down Trump’s Davos Speech | Command Post
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖International military contacts expressed concern over Trump's national security concepts following his Davos speech.
- ❖Trump's proposal to 'own' Greenland is strategically flawed, as Denmark already provides the US with necessary access, and 'leasing' is the standard, cost-effective model for global US bases.
- ❖Trump's claim that Greenland is 'between the United States, Russia, and China' inadvertently validates China's self-declared 'near Arctic country' status.
- ❖Trump's conflation of 'perfectly executed' assassination strikes (like Soleimani) with a full-scale invasion of a country like Greenland demonstrates a lack of understanding of military realities and potential casualties.
- ❖The Biden administration's strategy in Ukraine is framed as a 'master stroke' for carefully avoiding nuclear escalation with Russia.
- ❖Orders to deploy an airborne division from Alaska (3,000 miles away) to Minneapolis are logistically nonsensical when closer, more suitable units exist.
- ❖Mobilizing military police to Minneapolis suggests consideration of the Insurrection Act, which would illegally empower them to conduct policing actions against civilians.
Insights
1Trump's Greenland Strategy Undermines Alliances and Misrepresents Military Logistics
General Hertling explains that Trump's public desire to 'buy' or 'own' Greenland, rather than continue existing lease agreements with Denmark, is strategically unsound. The US already has access to vital early warning capabilities in Greenland through long-standing treaties with Denmark. Furthermore, if the US were to 'own' all its global military bases instead of leasing them, the financial burden would be immense, and such a stance likely raises 'raised eyebrows' among allies like Qatar, Germany, Italy, the Philippines, and South Korea, where the US currently leases facilities.
General Hertling's experience as former head of US Army Europe and his explanation of US base leasing practices. Trump's comparison of leasing to 'renting a house' and his desire to 'own it'.
2Trump's 'Perfect' Military Operations vs. Reality of Invasion
The hosts discuss Trump's repeated emphasis on 'perfectly executed' operations like the strikes against Soleimani and Baghdadi, or even 'Operation Warp Speed.' General Hertling clarifies that these were either targeted assassination strikes by special forces or logistical operations, vastly different from invading a sovereign country. He suggests that military planners likely presented Trump with the grim realities of a Greenland invasion, including potential casualties and international backlash, which may have deterred him, as he dislikes scenarios involving American casualties.
Trump's quotes about 'wiping out' threats and 'perfectly executed' actions (). General Hertling's distinction between kinetic strikes and invading a foreign country, emphasizing 'chaos in battle' and 'the enemy gets a vote' ().
3Alarming Implications of Domestic Troop Deployment Orders
The Pentagon's 'prepare to deploy' orders for elements of the 11th Airborne Division from Alaska and a military police brigade from North Carolina to Minneapolis are deemed strategically illogical and concerning. General Hertling points out that airborne units are unsuitable for domestic support missions due to their specialized training and limited maneuverability, especially when closer, more appropriate units exist. The mobilization of military police is particularly alarming because, under Posse Comitatus, they cannot conduct policing actions against civilians unless the Insurrection Act is invoked, which would be a severe escalation.
General Hertling's analysis of the 11th Airborne Division's location (3,000 miles away) and mission (). His explanation of Posse Comitatus and the Insurrection Act regarding military police ().
4Biden Administration's Ukraine Strategy as a 'Master Stroke'
In contrast to Trump's claims of preventing World War II, General Hertling praises the Biden administration's handling of the Ukraine conflict as a 'master stroke of strategy.' He argues that by carefully providing equipment to Ukraine without direct NATO intervention, the administration walked a 'very fine line' to avoid triggering a potential nuclear response from Russia, whose key trigger point is a perceived threat to its homeland. The current devastation in Kyiv is attributed to a recent lack of focus on the conflict.
General Hertling's assessment of the Biden administration's strategy () and the current situation in Kyiv ().
Key Concepts
The Enemy Gets a Vote
This military principle states that no matter how well-planned an operation, the adversary's actions and reactions will always influence the outcome, introducing chaos and unpredictability. General Hertling uses this to counter Trump's perception of 'perfectly executed' military actions, especially regarding a potential invasion.
Lessons
- When evaluating political statements on military matters, consider the practical realities of logistics, international treaties, and potential casualties, rather than accepting claims of 'perfect' or 'easy' operations.
- Understand the critical distinction between targeted kinetic strikes by special forces and the complex, costly, and often bloody reality of conventional military invasion or occupation.
- Be aware of the legal and strategic implications of domestic military deployment, particularly the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the military from acting as law enforcement, and the Insurrection Act, which would override these restrictions with severe consequences.
Notable Moments
General Hertling reveals text messages from European military contacts expressing concern over Trump's national security concepts.
This highlights the tangible impact of US presidential rhetoric on international alliances and perceptions of American leadership.
Trump confuses Greenland with Iceland in his speech, then describes Greenland as a 'piece of ice, cold and poorly located' that he still wants.
This showcases a lack of basic geographical knowledge and a transactional, real estate-like approach to international relations, even for strategically important territories.
Quotes
"Is this a guy that America really supports in terms of national security concepts and strategy?"
"If we want to start owning all the bases we occupy as a US military in terms of a global strategy, we're going to be paying a whole lot of money for those facilities versus leasing them with other countries."
"I'm helping Europe. I'm helping NATO. And I and I've until the last few days when I told them about Iceland, they loved me. They called me daddy right last time. Very smart man said, 'He's our daddy. He's running it.'"
"I have no idea what he just said, Ben. Truthfully, there there is no connection to World War II history and the things he said in terms of taking it and giving it back."
"There is always chaos in battle and there will always be uh you know the the the enemy gets a vote."
Q&A
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