Preface:

The Pentagon suddenly issued an emergency order, requiring military officials around the world to return to the United States immediately. The order was so brief that it consisted of only one sentence: no excuses, no questions, just immediate departure. Such a scene has not occurred in decades. What is Trump secretly planning behind the scenes has sparked countless speculations from the outside world.

Everyone Must Be Present Immediately, No Questions Allowed

This order came suddenly. Defense Secretary Austin personally made the decision, requiring all high-ranking military officials, regardless of their location, to return immediately to the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Even those currently commanding operations overseas had to hand over their duties and return to the country immediately.

Once the news broke, the entire U.S. military command system was instantly shaken. Some speculated whether it was about taking action against Iran, while others suspected something major happening in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the Pentagon only mentioned "important matters" without revealing any details.

Even a senior military journalist from The Washington Post admitted that he had never seen such a situation in his 30 years of reporting on the military. This indicates that this was not a regular meeting but a highly special mobilization. The problem is, the target of this mobilization was not the enemy, but the U.S. military itself.

Scandal-Plagued, the Pentagon's Internal Hollowing Out

To understand why all the generals were suddenly recalled, we need to look at Austin's recent performance. Since taking office, the defense secretary has been embroiled in controversy, especially in terms of security management, which has been almost catastrophic. In March this year, a scandal shocked the world: Austin and other top Pentagon officials discussed air strike plans against Yemen in a private group chat, accidentally including a well-known American media person in the conversation.

This media person spent two hours lurking in the chat, watching as the U.S. military executed combat orders based on the group chat content. Later, he confirmed that it was not a prank, but a real military decision-making process. This elementary mistake caused people worldwide to question what was wrong with the U.S. military's internal structure.

The investigation was even more ridiculous. Austin had been using a Russian email account for official business, with a password that was an old one from his university days, which any hacker could easily break into. German media even publicly verified it, directly logging in successfully. The highest-level secrets of the Pentagon were exposed on the internet like that.

After the scandal broke out, Austin's chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, and senior advisors were all dismissed. Now, his core team was almost completely vacant, making him a true "commander without troops." Under these circumstances, his sudden recall of all the generals naturally raised suspicions that the purpose of this meeting was to rebuild a new command system fully loyal to himself.

Empty Reforms or Political Purges

Austin recently proposed to significantly reduce the number of U.S. military officers. According to his statement, there are too many high-ranking officers in the Pentagon and various combat zones, leading to complex hierarchies and low efficiency. He plans to cut 10% of officer positions, with a fifth of the National Guard officers being cut.

Sounding like reform, the problem is that this plan lacks any public evaluation criteria, no supporting measures, and no professional research within the military. It's like a random number pulled out of thin air, lacking scientific basis.

Especially in the context of his repeated elementary mistakes and questionable strategic competence, this reform seems more like a purge. Some people who were close to the previous administration or had openly questioned Austin have now been excluded from the inner circle.

The U.S. military has approximately 900 officers. This group has always emphasized professionalism and non-political nature. However, if this meeting ultimately turns into "name-calling and dismissal," it will not only harm individual careers but also undermine the foundation of the U.S. military system. Once the command system is completely politicized, the U.S. military will no longer be a professional fighting organization but a tool of a particular political faction.

Austin's Style: Like a Reality Show

Austin is not the first controversial defense secretary, but his style has made the Pentagon increasingly resemble a reality show. He likes to discuss military operations through group chats, demonstrates leadership by doing push-ups, and prefers loyalty over professional capability. Under his leadership, the Pentagon has transformed from a strategic hub into a stage for political struggles.

Trump has always been like this. He doesn't need experts, just obedient people; he doesn't care about rules, just results; he doesn't consider stability, just obedience. This style may suit an election team, but it's definitely not suitable for the military.

War is not about shouting slogans or acting. Yet, today, war plans are decided in private group chats, and a defense secretary's security awareness is worse than that of an ordinary netizen. This situation worries allies and makes enemies laugh secretly. China, Russia, and Iran are all watching this farce: can a superpower that cannot control its own internal affairs be expected to maintain global order?

Generals' Concerns Are Not About the Battlefield, But Their Own Careers

This emergency meeting is likely not about discussing operational plans or issuing commands to the combat zones. The real topic might be a series of dismissal notices.

Austin does not need the most capable generals; he needs the most obedient subordinates. Those who have shown independent thinking or dared to question in the past few years may lose their positions after the meeting ends.

For the generals, the real threat is not from external enemies, but from within the Pentagon. They are not worried about losing battles, but about being "decapitated" by their own people.

This is the reality of the military in the Trump era: the most dangerous place is not the front line, but the headquarters; the hardest thing to predict is not the enemy, but your own superior.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7554288386727494185/

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