Hodges: Pentagon chief’s generals’ meeting shows poor leadership

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army Europe, said on Espreso TV.

“This is completely unnecessary. I have never seen anything like this called. We had a 20-year war in Afghanistan and different ways to talk. I think this is poor leadership. Why is the Secretary summoning all generals from around the world without telling them why? That’s really a lack of professionalism and proper leadership,” he said.

Hodges expressed hope the generals were not summoned under compulsion. He noted that such a meeting sends a bad signal both to adversaries and to partners.

“I know the President plans to be there. So it seems this will turn even more into some kind of political contest, which is completely out of place now. I regret that these generals have to go there, sit, and find themselves in a situation where they’re expected to show enthusiasm they don’t actually feel. I hope they aren’t being forced. This is a bad signal we are sending to our enemies and a bad signal for our friends,” the U.S. general emphasized.

• On September 30, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth convened U.S. generals and admirals for a meeting at a Marine Corps base in Virginia without specifying the purpose. At the event, Hegseth vowed the end of military diversity efforts.