Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling

And I had one Georgian toast with a beer and he said to Putin's health, you know, they hate this guy. Because the majority of them have been under Putin's thumb. And I'll bring up the point too, it just shocked the bejesus out of me yesterday, Tim, when I saw all of the European force chiefs, all of the military chiefs from the European countries coming together with Macron.

And I had one Georgian toast with a beer and he said to Putin's health, you know, they hate this guy. Because the majority of them have been under Putin's thumb. And I'll bring up the point too, it just shocked the bejesus out of me yesterday, Tim, when I saw all of the European force chiefs, all of the military chiefs from the European countries coming together with Macron.

And I had one Georgian toast with a beer and he said to Putin's health, you know, they hate this guy. Because the majority of them have been under Putin's thumb. And I'll bring up the point too, it just shocked the bejesus out of me yesterday, Tim, when I saw all of the European force chiefs, all of the military chiefs from the European countries coming together with Macron.

Because back in the day, when I was the commander of US Army Europe, we used to have something called the Conference of European Armies, where we would have all the European defense chiefs in Heidelberg, and we would talk about commonalities and things we were going to do and exercises. And by the way, Hegseth has eliminated exercises from the European force.

Because back in the day, when I was the commander of US Army Europe, we used to have something called the Conference of European Armies, where we would have all the European defense chiefs in Heidelberg, and we would talk about commonalities and things we were going to do and exercises. And by the way, Hegseth has eliminated exercises from the European force.

Because back in the day, when I was the commander of US Army Europe, we used to have something called the Conference of European Armies, where we would have all the European defense chiefs in Heidelberg, and we would talk about commonalities and things we were going to do and exercises. And by the way, Hegseth has eliminated exercises from the European force.

So we can't work and play well with others next year. All of those things are detrimental to our security. And I can't see what level of earth these guys are living in right now to think any of this is good.

So we can't work and play well with others next year. All of those things are detrimental to our security. And I can't see what level of earth these guys are living in right now to think any of this is good.

So we can't work and play well with others next year. All of those things are detrimental to our security. And I can't see what level of earth these guys are living in right now to think any of this is good.

Yeah, I mean, it would be possible. I think when you're talking about the overall strength of NATO, they are very good and they outweigh Russia and their military force. But that's really not what I'm worried about. It's if they are together as a NATO. they can withstand any kind of Russian aggression.

Yeah, I mean, it would be possible. I think when you're talking about the overall strength of NATO, they are very good and they outweigh Russia and their military force. But that's really not what I'm worried about. It's if they are together as a NATO. they can withstand any kind of Russian aggression.

Yeah, I mean, it would be possible. I think when you're talking about the overall strength of NATO, they are very good and they outweigh Russia and their military force. But that's really not what I'm worried about. It's if they are together as a NATO. they can withstand any kind of Russian aggression.

But what we're seeing is it gets to one of Putin's strategic objectives when he started this war in 2022. He truly believed that NATO was very divided and the US was very divided. And he didn't think anyone would take action. Well, he was surprised over the last three years. Well, now the question would become, will NATO pull together without a US input? I think they will.

But what we're seeing is it gets to one of Putin's strategic objectives when he started this war in 2022. He truly believed that NATO was very divided and the US was very divided. And he didn't think anyone would take action. Well, he was surprised over the last three years. Well, now the question would become, will NATO pull together without a US input? I think they will.

But what we're seeing is it gets to one of Putin's strategic objectives when he started this war in 2022. He truly believed that NATO was very divided and the US was very divided. And he didn't think anyone would take action. Well, he was surprised over the last three years. Well, now the question would become, will NATO pull together without a US input? I think they will.

But you now even have competing governments saying, no, we're the lead. No, we're the lead. I mean, the dynamic between France, Poland and Germany right now is very interesting to see who is building armies, who's going to be in charge. You know, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe has always been an American because they tried to pull all the nations together.

But you now even have competing governments saying, no, we're the lead. No, we're the lead. I mean, the dynamic between France, Poland and Germany right now is very interesting to see who is building armies, who's going to be in charge. You know, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe has always been an American because they tried to pull all the nations together.

But you now even have competing governments saying, no, we're the lead. No, we're the lead. I mean, the dynamic between France, Poland and Germany right now is very interesting to see who is building armies, who's going to be in charge. You know, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe has always been an American because they tried to pull all the nations together.

The question is going to be, there truthfully is, as Rundfeld once said, an old Europe and a new Europe. And the new Europe has experienced the threat of Putin during the Cold War. The old Europe is kind of good in their economic standards and they're feeling good about themselves. The question is, can those 32 countries of Europe fight?

The question is going to be, there truthfully is, as Rundfeld once said, an old Europe and a new Europe. And the new Europe has experienced the threat of Putin during the Cold War. The old Europe is kind of good in their economic standards and they're feeling good about themselves. The question is, can those 32 countries of Europe fight?