Join Victor Davis Hanson and cohost Jack Fowler for discussion of Zelensky’s mistakes, the brainiac left response, Vance’s record, how Trump’s critics want to undermine peace, generals in war and generals in peace, how 60% of Democrats negative on Israel, Byron Donalds’s run for Florida governor, and the Epstein files.
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I find your statement incredible! Does not the military require paperwork for everything? Does the Air Force burn its paperwork after each sortie? Does the Air Force make payments via check, or does it hand out cash for every service person to spend as they wish?
I worked for a multinational corporation that had hundreds of offices in dozens of countries and audits were performed every year. Perhaps you can explain why the Air Force would be different?
Professor Hanson, I worked as a civilian for the Air Force for 35 years, mostly in Finance. The idea that the DOD should be able to pass an audit like a business is absurd. It is the talking point of politicians that resonates with the masses. There is no business, no entity, that operates with the complexity of equipment, locations, personnel, and functions. The effort is a boondoggle for vested interests. Financial controls are in place and surely should be scrutinized for improvements, but the detailed accounting to “pass” a business audit are impossible. I worry such efforts will hamper our ability to perform if pursued too ardently. I encourage you to ask your colleagues about this and perhaps introduce some common sense into the media discussions.
Secretary Hegseth said that we won WW II with seven four-star generals. We now have 44.
President Obama fired 196 senior officers over 5 years. Here is as much of the list as your format allows:
Maj. Gen. Michael Carey, head of the 20th Air Force, responsible for the three wings that maintain control of the 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles, and Vice Adm. Tim Giardina, the No. 2 officer at U.S. Strategic Command.
General John R. Allen-U.S. Marines Commander International Security Assistance Force [ISAF] (Nov 2012)
• Major General Ralph Baker (2 Star)-U.S. Army Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Horn in Africa (April 2013)
• Major General Michael Carey (2 Star)-U.S. Air Force Commander of the 20th US Air Force in charge of 9,600 people and 450 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (Oct 2013)
• Colonel James Christmas-U.S. Marines Commander 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit & Commander Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response Unit (July 2013)
• Major General Peter Fuller-U.S. Army Commander in Afghanistan (May 2011)
• Major General Charles M.M. Gurganus-U.S. Marine Corps Regional Commander of SW and I Marine Expeditionary Force in Afghanistan (Oct 2013)
• General Carter F. Ham-U.S. Army African Command (Oct 2013)
• Lieutenant General David H. Huntoon (3 Star), Jr.-U.S. Army 58th Superintendent of the US Military Academy at West Point , NY (2013)
• General James Mattis-U.S. Marines Chief of CentCom (May 2013)
• Colonel Daren Margolin-U.S. Marine in charge of Quantico ‘s Security Battalion (Oct 2013)
• General Stanley McChrystal-U.S. A
Weasel words: Hallmarks of Russian Information
Short guys three outcomes: pugnacious, comic, diplomat.
Zelenskyy got two of three.
In regard to your comments regarding Mr Austin going “AWOL” for six days I would only add that at the time no one seemed to notice he was missing.
Victor,
Would you please discuss the Budapest Memorandum and exactly what the United States agreed to. Many on the left are saying we are already obligated to provide security assurances, this no need for a mineral deal. Your thoughts please
this is great Victor. Way more insightful and wise and so many of the critics And commentators right and left about Trump and Vance here. That includes your brethern in at Goodfellas, despite some of their comments, being interesting. from your observations, I was reminded of that famous paragraph from Teddy Roosevelt, Which I knew since my own boyhood days. Thank you too, for understandung and being a man of action yourself, in the arena. https://www.trcp.org/2011/01/18/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts/