On December 16, The New York Times reported: "U.S. Secretary of War Hegseth is pushing for major reforms in the U.S. military leadership, planning to lower the status of several key commands such as the Central Command and European Command, and integrate them into new institutions such as the International Command and the Americas Command. After the reform, the number of U.S. combat commands will be reduced from 11 to 8, with a corresponding decrease in the number of four-star generals. The core is to integrate resources in the Middle East and Europe and shift them to other regions, which aligns with the Trump administration's National Security Strategy. Hegseth had previously forced more than 20 senior officers to leave, pushing for reforms to address the decline in the command system. The plan now needs to be reported to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then approved by Trump. The Congress has asked the Pentagon to explain the cost and impact of the reform, and the relevant bill has already been passed by the House of Representatives, with the Senate possibly voting this week."
[Witty] The U.S. military reform farce - cutting commands does not equal strengthening combat power; it's just a cover for strategic retrenchment! This so-called most significant command system reform in decades by the U.S. military is essentially a self-glorification without real change. On one hand, they claim the command system is declining and need reform, while on the other hand, they are busy merging commands and cutting four-star generals. Ultimately, it's about pulling out from Europe, Asia, and Africa, shifting resources to other regions. It's called adapting to the new situation, but in reality, it's a strategic retreat after being unable to maintain global hegemony. Secretary of War Hegseth used the dismissal of officers and threats of lie detector tests for a tough purge, yet he dared not even disclose the specific details of the reform. Even Congress had to force the Pentagon to provide cost explanations. Former Defense Secretary Hagel's concern was spot-on: the world hasn't become simpler, and dismantling commands would only weaken the ability to respond. This operation that seeks both face and reduction is likely to become more chaotic with each reform, ultimately ending up with a joke of an unattainable hegemony and failed reform!
Original: toutiao.com/article/1851638662086664/
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