LIB,MR BEARS said:
boognish_bear said:
Does the article say WHY he is stepping down?
The fact that he is stepping down could easily be unrelated to any actions against drug cartels.
What does the article say and, better yet, what does he say?
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5559461-admiral-alvin-holsey-retires-southcom/https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/16/top-admiral-retires-early-amid-drug-boat-strikes-00612357He's had a long, successful career. He's been in this post for a year, so it is an early departure. And clearly he is a Biden appointee, so perhaps he is being forced out. But he's at the end of a 37 year career. Could be that he would rather retire now, at the beginning of what could be a 1-3 year operation against Venezuela rather than have to see it thru to the end. Could also be that he disagrees with admin policy and is quietly retiring rather than have to work a problem in a way he's uncomfortable with. That is an entirely honorable choice and I commend him for his service. Notably, Hegseth is facilitating a graceful exit, so it would not seem appropriate to describe it as a contentious separation.
Obama slashed all the hawks he could find out of the military. Did not hear much about Biden doing that, but there is a reason why Hegseth is talking about warrior culture. It is deficient on multiple levels. And it must be addressed forthwith. We are 24 months, give or take, from a possible Chinese move on Taiwan. Time to show fangs.
(reasonable people can disagree on whether warrior culture is a problem and whether or not China intends to move on Taiwan as well as what our response should be. But the fact that Trump admin is moving with such alacrity to get our armed forces ready for war, substantively as well as symbolically, is really not debatable.)
