Another branch commander resigns urgently, US defense minister's speech causes big trouble: US military combat capability is severely damaged!
On the afternoon of October 2 local time, US Army four-star general Brian Fenton, commander of the Special Operations Command, suddenly announced his resignation.
This is the second high-ranking officer to leave in just three days. On October 1, General Thomas Bice, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command responsible for all U.S. air and land-based strategic nuclear strike forces, had also applied for retirement.
On September 30, a special meeting of senior military officers was held at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, USA. Defense Secretary Hegseth delivered a strong speech to nearly a thousand U.S. senior officers.
In his speech, Hegseth spoke frankly: "If you don't agree with my views, you can leave. If what I said today doesn't satisfy you, you can choose to resign immediately."
The way this meeting was called was itself unusual. According to The Guardian, some officers stationed overseas had to arrange their return to the U.S. on short notice, and the Pentagon initially did not disclose the specific agenda of the meeting. CNN quoted military officials as saying, "It's like bringing a horse back to the stable and taming it."
Fenton's qualifications are impressive: This veteran who has served for 38 years once served as the deputy commander of the Indo-Pacific Command and directly participated in planning military deployments in the Asia-Pacific region. Since taking command of the Special Operations Command in 2022, he has controlled elite forces around the world, including the Navy SEAL Team Six and Delta Force. He is a frontline general who has been through the battlefield.
Analysts say that Fenton's departure not only means the loss of operational experience but may also affect the stability of the U.S. military's overseas operations chain.
Looking at history, it is rare for such a concentrated wave of resignations to occur in the U.S. military leadership. Several generals have expressed concern about the current atmosphere, and whether more resignations will follow is worth watching. If Hegseth continues to implement "loyalty screening," it could lead to more senior officers leaving, further damaging the U.S. military's combat capability.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845017109693504/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.