'Boots on the ground should not be be off the table' Ben Hodges interview | DW News

Summary

Retired U.S. Army General Ben Hodes discusses the war in Ukraine and tensions within NATO. He criticizes the lack of clearly defined strategic objectives by Western leaders, argues Ukraine can still win with more Western support, and warns that another Trump presidency could jeopardize NATO cohesion and embolden Putin. Hodes also alleges the recent Hamas attack in Israel was not a coincidence but rather an effort by Iran to help Russia by diverting attention and resources from Ukraine.

Takeaways

• 📝 Ben Hodes emphasizes the lack of strategic clarity from the West regarding their objectives in Ukraine, leading to conflicting statements and actions.
• 🛡️ Macron's stance on keeping military intervention in Ukraine as an option is praised for strategic ambiguity, contrasting with explicit refusals from other leaders.
• 💡 The inconsistency in European leadership and messages weakens the alliance, highlighting the need for clear U.S. objectives and coordination.
• 👍 Germany's mixed signals—increased military spending and hesitancy in troop deployment—pose a risk to its leadership role and effectiveness in the crisis.
• 🔥 The discussion on the necessity and potential effectiveness of sending troops to Ukraine underscores the importance of defining clear objectives.
• 🛠️ Putin's nuclear threats are viewed as a bullying tactic that the West should not be deterred by, with a call for the West to remain focused on their strategic goals.
• 🚨 Ukraine's potential for victory is linked to Western support and leadership, particularly through precision weapons and making Crimea untenable for Russian forces.
• 📚 Domestic politics in the U.S. could impact support for Ukraine, with bipartisan support being crucial for ongoing aid.
• 💰 Trump's potential policies on NATO and Ukraine are criticized as strategically illiterate and dangerous for both U.S. democracy and international relations.
• 🌍 The Middle East conflict, particularly Iran's alignment with Russia, is seen as a strategic maneuver that diverts attention and resources from Ukraine.

Q & A

What does General Hodes say is missing when it comes to the West's strategic approach to the war in Ukraine?

General Hodes says what is missing right now is strategic clarity by the United States, Germany, and the West on the objectives in Ukraine. There needs to be clearly defined strategic objectives rather than vague statements about supporting Ukraine.

Why does General Hodes criticize President Biden's earlier statement about not sending American troops to Ukraine?

General Hodes criticizes President Biden's statement about not sending American boots on the ground because he believes it was a mistake and a gift to the Kremlin, communicating what the U.S. would not do and limiting options.

What are the three capabilities General Hodes says Ukraine needs to overpower Russia?

The three key capabilities General Hodes says Ukraine needs are: 1) Long-range precision weapons to make Crimea untenable for Russian forces, 2) Precision weapons to neutralize Russia's advantage of numbers by knocking out HQs, artillery, logistics, etc., 3) Weapons with sufficient range to hit targets across Russian-occupied Ukraine like the Taurus cruise missile.

Why does General Hodes say European countries like Germany have no reason to be tired in supporting Ukraine?

General Hodes says European countries like Germany have zero reason to be tired because not one German soldier has even broken a fingernail. He says the real tiredness is from the failure of political leaders to clearly explain objectives and why the war matters.

What does General Hodes say Ukraine needs to do to fix problems with military manpower and rotation?

General Hodes says Ukraine's government has to get serious and make political decisions to fix problems with the military personnel system, recall reservists, institute universal conscription if needed. This will allow proper troop rotation so units don't get exhausted.

What threat does General Hodes say another Trump presidency could pose for NATO cohesion?

General Hodes says Trump encouraging Putin to take actions against NATO allies not spending enough on defense, signals to the Kremlin that NATO cohesion could unravel. This could dangerously undermine deterrence like during the Cold War.

Why does General Hodes believe the recent Hamas attack in Israel helped Russia?

General Hodes believes the Hamas attack diverted resources and ammunition from going to Ukraine to Israel. It also created massive political problems for President Biden related to U.S. support for Israel, disrupting and delaying the Ukraine aid bill.

What transactional deal does General Hodes worry Trump could make with Putin over Ukraine if re-elected?

General Hodes worries Trump could make a transactional deal promising Putin that Ukraine would never join NATO in exchange for Russian military withdrawal. Trump wants flexibility for deals rather than coordinating within NATO.

What evidence does General Hodes say contradicts Trump’s claim that Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he were president?

General Hodes says there is zero evidence to support Trump's claim. Trump has not provided any logical argument of how Putin would have been deterred from invading Ukraine under his leadership.

How could improved U.S. strategic thinking help address security threats from the Russia-Iran alliance that General Hodes highlights?

General Hodes says the U.S. needs to recognize Russia and Iran are each other's top allies and think more strategically about countering this alliance. This could help avoid incidents like the convenient Hamas attack diverting focus from Russia's war.