Former commander of US forces in Europe explains Putin’s military options | DW Interview
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- Ben Hodges is a retired Lieutenant General of the US army and commander of its forces in Europe. He met DW Chief International Editor Richard Walker at the Munich Security Conference to talk about the massive buildup of Russian troops surrounding Ukraine. What are Vladimir Putin’s military options? What would be a sign of an imminent invasion? Hodges sets out his views based on decades of experience in the US military.
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#RussiaUkraine #MSC #BenHodges
Hope you're right commander. I'm actually praying so...let's wage peace if we can.
14 thousand killed Ukrainians is fairy tail, is he for real???
@@easternfrontagain he was referring to the "mass graves" in Donbass with hundreds of russians in them recently reported by the russian media. They even sent their criminal investigating committee (SKR) to perform a forensic investigation. I have no idea how and why a russian civilian law enforcement agency would do such a thing on foreign soil uninvited, but that's just what the russians do for their public
>Hope you're right commander.
He's not. He didn't get the memo that Putin has already invaded before.
@@item6931 this is the implicit appeasement. That crimea is russia's and rukies never invaded.
Lieutenant General Ben Hodges was the high rank actor of an illegal war, Irak war without mandate on false evidence with Ukraine in the coalition and he has still credibility with his hands full of blood
General Hodges has given a honest assessment of how he views the current situation and I thank him for that. There is a degree of bravery here even for a retired General to contradict some of his own country's public statements.
If he was still in his position he couldn't speaks off like this.
You are right. Far from notorious assessments we get from other generals
Lieutenant General Ben Hodges was the high rank actor of an illegal war, Irak war without mandate on false evidence with Ukraine in the coalition and he has still credibility with his hands full of blood
If Swift is banned for Russia Germany will have to pay in Gold to buy gas from Russia or freeze in winter. dito for crude oil and platinum and coal
He just repeated American lies.
Encouraging to see that DW still can produce quality journalism and interviews.
Giving open mice access to a us military pig is journalism?
Since DW is not a private owned and profit oriented company it can do so.
If Swift is banned for Russia Germany will have to pay in Gold to buy gas from Russia or freeze in winter. dito for crude oil and platinum and coal
Always good stuff and where I get most of my news. The American media outlets are too polarizing and most programs are commentary.
Not on this one. The first bad job I've seen.
Haha. It's always odd hearing a random southern (American) accent in Europe. He's a former general so that makes sense.
Moment he named my city (Kherson) I giggled. It's the first time in my life that I ever hear any westerner pronouncing it.
If Swift is banned for Russia Germany will have to pay in Gold to buy gas from Russia or freeze in winter. dito for crude oil and platinum and coal
@@MrVioletpandora. Putin bot. We can use coal, nuclear plants electricity.. to heat up. This crisis has shown the Europeans they must give up the russian gas: 40% of the russian exports lost for Putin.
Thank you for posting this. Interesting points of view. A calming former commander.
Lieutenant General Ben Hodges was the high rank actor of an illegal war, Irak war without mandate on false evidence with Ukraine in the coalition and he has still credibility with his hands full of blood
If Swift is banned for Russia Germany will have to pay in Gold to buy gas from Russia or freeze in winter. dito for crude oil and platinum and coal
What does he have to day about 800 American bases around the world....... how many innocent people has he killed in iraq
You don’t move military assets unless you going to use it, specially with Russia’s economy
The main problem with these so called experts is their lack of geo-political knowledge. Geography is not a taught subject in the US. The KGB training is scientific not emotional. People are resources. How many countries can claim to have national intelligence officer as their head of state? Like any narco gang states in order to defeat Putin you got to take the junior partners, and closest allies. That means the US takes care of his yard, (A Purge of all Socialits Latin American Presidents and administrations that had done arm deals and vaccine deals with China and Russia) Canada takes care of his yard (Nuclear high Comand in the North Pole in conjunction with the Baltic States for active Arctic military drills) and Europe takes care of his yard to the East of the Mediteranean Sea all the way to the Balkan States. Starve and Flooding strategy. The US and Canada has the leverage, flood the world market with gas to astronomical levels so that can make Russian markets crash, that will send a signal to OPEC not to mess with Western Powers. By doing that Europe and America aleviate both the supply chain issues and inflation. Starve them inside an iron curtain, walled city starve siege. The oligarch will take care of him.
About credibility: The moment Boris Johnson started parroting the US, I thought: This will never happen. BoJo is so discredited that his ok is a death kiss to any idea from the West!
Russia china alliance against nato aukus Australia uk usa military alliance russians to conquer coasts of ukraine
😥You tried your best... But the English language has defeated you on this fine day.
The future's so bright. I gotta wear shades 😎 😫
So bright especially if its shaped like mushrooms.
Prayers for Ukraine!!!
God helps Ukraine 🙏🙏😢😢
A realistic interview DW has given in a long time. The General is a good military officer and gentleman .
Addresses key players with respect and impartially answers well all questions that able interviewer tosses at him
If Swift is banned for Russia Germany will have to pay in Gold to buy gas from Russia or freeze in winter. dito for crude oil and platinum and coal
in a long time ? Dude, you got no idea what they did the last years !
Given that over 50 useless members of US congress went to Munich
it's good to hear the views of a retired US general for a change.
Lol, choke Ukraine like how the US choke Iran and Afghanistan?
Yes?
This all reminds me of a playground fight in school.
Two big bullies pushing each other around, & all the other kids excitedly chattering around them, talking about what he said & who is more likely to win.
Where have you seen the two bullies Russia and China fighting?
@@MarcoBonechi He obviously meant US and Russia. And US is an obvious bully. It is the only country in the world that regulary starts wars with countries on another side of the globe with millions of dead. The only potential war China may have is over Taiwan and Taiwan is recognized as part of China by pretty much every country in this world, i.e. it is Chinese internal affair. If US didn't support Taiwan, Taiwan and mainland China would most probably find peacefull reintegration solution by now.
Only Russia is being a bully in this case
@@thebigwarthog Well, if you also think that during Cuban crisis US was the only bully, I can accept your viewpoint. Personally I consider current situation as US vs Russia conflict. "When two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers." Elephants are NATO (US-led) and Russia, the grass is Ukraine.
@@neverknowsbest2879 your fundamental flaw is looking at countries at people. You have a preconception drained in romanticism and nationalism that blinds you to this love of history, that instead people each of us has a right to live as the animals that we are.
as an american i wanted to say thank you for this video. Awesome you got this interview from this retired military man. Great questions and responses 5/5
No 'subtitle' saying who Hodges is and was. A poor interview. Bad job, DW.
"In the nuclear world. The true enemy is war itself." From the film Crimson Tide.
⚠️ (German zero-tolerance on racism) Why do they support azov battalion!
Looks like daddy China told whittle Russia it could play after it's Olympics were over.
At the moment of upload, these statements makes alot of sense, but this didnt age well
Free Ukraine 💛💙
ukraine are ( oblast) in the west were the like steps bandera and tap a language which was codified by the bolcheviks
One of the better interviews and commentary on the Ukraine-Russia crisis. Good questions cued up good commentary and analysis.
Nonsense...
Is that Former Commander of US Forces in Europe, part of the Intelligence Community that still can not find those Iraq Weapons of Mass Destruction and Mobile Anthrax Factories yet ? Just asking !
Lieutenant General Ben Hodges was the high rank actor of an illegal war, Irak war without mandate on false evidence with Ukraine in the coalition and he has still credibility with his hands full of blood
Since I was born from books to book heard Kiev. Now in 2022 is Kyiv.
Absolutely..... The correct name is KIEV....!!!!!!!!!
0:10 There are no rebel regions nowhere in Ukraine, the Donbass and Crimea regions are occupied by Muscovite armed forces since 2014.
This is probably the best analysis of the situation that I have yet seen. Good job, DW. 👍
Lieutenant General Ben Hodges was the high rank actor of an illegal war, Irak war without mandate on false evidence with Ukraine in the coalition and he has still credibility with his hands full of blood
@@louisecorchevolle9241 Bluhbluhbluh war boo
We ethnic Slavs and former Soviet satellites never had the human capital, geographical luck, or institutions to compete with the West. Every time we had a chance to make progress and advance ourselves politically some Czarist/Holodomoric/or Bolshevik dictator stepped on our neck.
Putin and Lukashenko are hopefully last in a long line of oppressors. God Bless the Ukrainian people!
You people here sound like the Orwellian Sheep chamber 😂.
You ain't fooling nobody, unless their brain cells were truly dead and zombified.
@Joff RH
When the debate is lost, slander is the tool used by the loser.
-Socrates
@@frogthefrog "When you run out of original ideas, quoting some unoriginal quote will surely make the argument go your way" -Poutine
not al all they are good leaders "ZE" is not president it is the ambassador of Usa in Kiev /Lvov
Do you know where Serpent Island is? That should be too much and should not be allowed. Russians just uses the same reasoning that USA and UK used to invade IRAQ when they said that Saddam H. have weapons of mass destruction ,even they could not prove that. Will USA let Russia have this one and let them occupied more parts of Ukraine just because of that?.
_Are you sure_ you wouldn't like to join in on the left vs right debate?
After all... isn't it rather vital that we figure out which party is to blame?
😐Shouldn't we focus on that?
@@snickle1980 Yes, that is valid but on the larger scheme is that what Russia does ,exploiting the USA and allies mistakes and they don't care if they comes from left or right. In Russia there is no such thing. It is what the West has to understand when they deal with Russia or China.
@@mksensej8701 😉I was being facetious. Russia is attempting to amplify our division along party lines.
A push into Ukraine becomes more expensive as each day passes. Fielding and maintaining an army is costly as well.
Strategically, I'm starting to see a growing benefit for the West if Putin were to push into Ukraine, but I'd much rather see some peaceful resolution, and a draw down.
Sign Ukraine into NATO and pop this pimple!
how you do it mus be consensus , France and Germany has vetoed it
After having scaled up to such heights of an armed conflict, how Mr Putin can walk out of a dignified exit from a negotiated settlement..
Maybe Putin will just keep the conflict mode in Ukraine borders forever trying to prevent Ukraine join Nato, EU or any "western" organization. Problem for Putin is that rest of the world won't tolerate Russia's childish behaviour anymore.
@@YPO6 china even encourages it because it gives their plan to occupy taiwan legitimacy !
@@oliviercoen446 Very true that if Putin does nothing more at the border for the next 5 years the world will get bored and not care
Subservient Europe better look out...
"it may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal". Henry Kissinger
It’s 190,000 or more not just 130k and increasing everyday
Don’t worry, the U.S.A sent 6,000 Special Forces there so judging by American expectations, 200,000 or more Russkies are no match.
So now let’s see how the powderful US contingent fares comparatively now since their last Afghan caper ehich they also won according to incoming Hollywood spin Movies. LOL
Mind Begs the Question:
To support & aid an Apartheid State
Righteous,Evil?
LOL
German- Russia partnership will win long term?
True, together with France 🤫
Russia, Germany, Iran, Venezuela, France, Israel, Turkey, Iraq and others should form :-
Hydrocarbons Alliance for Peace - HAP
However, there those who will do everything possible to stop an alliance as indicated.
100,00 in Wembley Stadium: after months, if not years, of Russian preparations, Ukrainians, with hand-me-down post-Soviet hardware, resoundingly routed the Russians at Kyiv... forcing the Russians to scamper to alternative areas... on the Russian border. (So much for the "new and improved" Red Army)
Europe wants peace. Ukraine wants peace. Russia wants peace and will not invade or intervene Ukraine as long as the West (NATO) does not cross Russian red lines. China, Ukraine, the West (NATO) and Russia respect Territorial Integrity. Russia wants security guarantees from the West (NATO) and NATO does not expand its influence to Eastern Europe. Ukraine, several Baltic States and several Eastern European countries want to join NATO. US/UK as NATO members send weapons/bullets/military trainers/military intelligence to Ukraine. Is the question now about the existence of NATO? NATO must demonstrate its presence in the Baltic countries, the Balkans, Ukraine and Eastern Europe. The former rival of NATO was the Warsaw Pact. The Warsaw Pact was dissolved together with the USSR. But NATO is still flying its power in Europe. So, the culprit of security issues in Europe is NATO. Is the existence of NATO dissolved will make:
1. European countries respect the Territorial Integrity of each country in Europe.
2. No country has joined NATO.
3. No more NATO expanding its influence in mainland Europe.
4. No more countries in Europe (West/East) feel that their sovereignty is threatened.
5. Finally, the atmosphere of peace occurred in Europe, Ukraine and Russia? If the west is rethinking, the irrelevant of NATO nowadays. If NATO disbanded, Will the war in Europe be solved? Will the issue of security and territorial sovereignty in Europe be resolved? LoL. Ha ha ha. ️😀😃😄
Yeah that is the scary tactic Russia can use. Salami slicing very small territory like a land bridge for Crimea or connecting donbas to the coast some more.
And, what's in it for you warmongers? Didn't you break up Yugoslavia and creatred Cosovo?
Well compare armies by counting soldiers - does not work. Russia can use air forces and Ukraine can't because of S-400 and total supperiority in the air. But Ukrain can stop Russian ground army - it is very clear. But expirience of US says - you can't get in to control country by air only. So if Russian bliz fails - no way that thay own Ukraine. Can immagine size of support from all around the world also.
Now this is NEWS, CNN take notes
I want to see WW3!
KGB seems to be in Ukraine.
The way of thinking is simply sicK! Who is escalating?! It’s britain and US are escalating tensions! Sick imperialism, that’s what it is!
Why no one asking a bout standoff missiles like Calibra.. Ukraine has no chance against 10 000 Russian Army nevermind 100 000
Zbignew Brzezinski in 1992 came out with US plans to take over Ukraina by 2015
The journalist cannot even produce follow-up questions because he's obviously out of his league 🙄 The retired general, on the other hand, was brilliant!
We have NATO on Russia's boarder what do you think they should do or ever better what what would we do if the Russia's were on our boarder????
“The Whitehouse thinking “ ?? Are you kidding General ? Really ? You lost me there…..
So UKRAINE , is on its own,,??? SHAME we are still at this stage,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Not enough troops to invade?Sounds like wishful thinking. Iraq was taken with less than 100k troops initially surging to circa 150k or so.. Putin has more troops than that on Ukraine's border....
....Like a boa constrictor ?
OK..I guess they'll have to come at'em like an eagle or a jaguar or alligator :
EVERY predator has a natural enemy who can take it down.
Orcas
General Hodges is not a total yes man. As for the Donbas. Well draw your own thoughts. There is a lot of proof that did happen. The pre built trenches. Over the entire area is a huge suggestion of fact and pre planning
Do stories on Cricket and Australian stars .Australia is big power of Cricket World.
1:40 Uh. I think Vlad is going to unleash missiles, drones and Migs before putting boots on the ground.
Nobody becomes a millionaire or billionaire by working for others and depending on them, good Investment breed millions of dollars and consistency breed billions
Yes people fail to understand that the rich Stay rich by spending like the poor and investing without stopping them the poor fail to do so
If you've started trading with this man then you're not far from making profits
You nailed it !!.. I've so much in the past trying to trade on my own. I'm glad I took a positive turn last year when I go in touch with Willie through a college's recommendation. I've recover all I've lost
I will get to him right away hope he replies 👌
Is war a game for all these countries..there is a massive economic and human lives is at stake here for both countries and to the world to an extent..
Russia is the bear, not a boa. Have you visit a zoo , and see the difference? Bear has different strike compared to Boa.
I am sorry, where there an investigation on this matters of how many people actually died on each side?
Refreshing to hear such a reasonable assessment in the midst of this media hysteria. Good interview.
Ukraine is on their own soil and it's easier to fight defensively. The US lost to the Taliban on their soil.
Every acciòn produce reacciòn, very simple. The rest is history.
Future is peace ✌ don’t worry about it
He is completely wrong. You will see 100 000 troops is quite enough.
AND MAY I JUS ADD WHAT LAVROV SAID "THE WEST INTENDS TO FIGHT WAR WITH RUSSIA WITH EVERY LAST UKRAINIAN" INDEED! 🤣😃😆🤣🤣
A bloody war that Russia would be solely responsible for
Hey DW please stop lying. Oh I'm sorry that is not a reality.
With UK's strong support of Europe through NATO, we can consider them back into the club.
Nada une más q el ataque del enemigo😃👍
yes ! :)
but to be frank ... for me personnaly they never left EU :)
Fun stuff. The US forces needed roughly 180,000 troops to invade Iraq and topple the government, facing an enemy force of double its size. And now a US general stands there and proclaims that a just slightly smaller Russian army couldn´t do the same with Ukraine, with the overall numbers much more in their favour.
Moreover, his theory of Russia trying to topple the Ukrainian government via an economic stranglehold doesn´t hold water. Even if the Russians would succeed in ruining Ukraine´s economy with a military buildup at the border, that doesn´t mean that this would bring down the government. Even if so, it would most likely see the return of Poroshenko to power, who is not pro-Russian either.
Fun stuff. : toppling Saddam Hussein was about as difficult as blowing a fart in his general direction.
American War crimes against humanity since 1820.... n American hypocrisy
@@kunaalsharma1039 didn't Stalin kill 30 million of your people? Starve torture and murder them? 😪
@@kunaalsharma1039 Yes, that is true, yet very similar things can be said about Russia or most other superpowers 🤷♂️
What is hypocrisy is saying that only the Americans are doing it.
@@kunaalsharma1039 please don’t breed
They tried to choke the capital of Germany like that in from June 48 to May 49. The west was resolute in their airlift. Now we have beautiful, thriving, and free Berlin.
I wish German could understand the similarities.
dude, learn NEW history ! Luftbrücke is a very unadequate example here.
Why there’s no 6ft between you guys? Corona still exist
General: "i like this".
I'm sure you do....
Super interesting interview.
Exactly, 100 troops is nothing, they would need 500-700k for even a chance of capturing Ukraine, never mind occupying it. The people who were saying 130k is enough to capture a city of 4.5 million in 2 days are out of their minds
Well, there are separatist forces in ukraine as well. The general is assuming a conventional assault. But if this was a multi-faceted play, then Kiev could be destabilized and a civil war might break out
Stop listening to the Presstitute media on your history lessons, and start using your own heads.
The 70%+ of the entire Ukranian population are brothers and sisters with Russians by bloodline just as a start.
If the Russian army rolls right in, they will barely even see a fight, as most of its citizens will embrace them.
Time shall tell the truth, as it always does, and I suspect that sadly, thanks to the Orwellian powers that be, we will be finding out sooner, rather than later.
@@NotShowingOff yeah, civil war... keep dreaming
In ancient times, that is correct. In hollywood, this hollywood general is also absolutely correct.
@@dilasgrau6433 More like hollyweird
Smart guy
Well, General, Putin was successful at this already, 2014, Crimea. The Donbas is the goal, Donestk, and Luhansk (defacto Russian anyway). This isn't a difficult formula. Kiev isn't on the target list.
Don't forget Transdniester (part of Moldova) in 2003. That is the reason Russia can place forces west of Ukraine.
I agree but russia will only react if there is a massive attack on Donbas by Kiev the goal is to (re) necociate for russia security on its borders
de fact have you been there ?
@@louisecorchevolle9241 negociate for russias security on the borders? that was a great joke. Russia initiated those separatist movements within Ukraine to enable them to later take over those areas. the new border line is within ukraine.
Beleive me these russians have the ability to prove you wrong '
Wrong comrade
Can intelligence tell me if Putin sleep these days.
This guy is basing his answer off of 3 weeks ago. 3 weeks have passed and now Belarus is accusing Ukraine of instigating this.
If Swift is banned for Russia Germany will have to pay in Gold to buy gas from Russia or freeze in winter. dito for crude oil and platinum and coal
Good, I'm not the only one raising an eyebrow at how outdated his situational awareness is. 1:30 -- The part about not even getting to Kyiv was my assessment around three weeks ago, back when 'on to Kyiv' would have required a long run from Smolensk.
@@johnd2058 ;)
@@kukulroukul4698 Hey, looks like good news: Putin's given up on Donbas as poison pill to mess up Ukraine's constitution!
Why Is not NATO to deescalate,?
Battleship Potemkin American degree in film history
RUSSIA WENT TOO FAR, EMBARGO RUSSIA NOW‼
Fart fart fart faaaaart faaaaaaaart faaaaaaaaaaaaart faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaart
..... even here in Germany.....
Translation:
"Die Deutschen sind ja total beklopt!"
Finally someone who can think
Agree Perfect real world view
Boa constrictor? What is next? 👀
All lies what you say general!!
130k troops? Nah it's 190k now, 60k teleported in over night!
Nah, that 190k includes crimea and separatist in the east. No teleportation needed :)
@@osakar941 and the new ones in Belorussia
@@osakar941 They said already the 130k included all them in Crimea, Belorus and the boarder. So the addiitonal 60k came from somewhere.
Never Ever Trust America!!!
Anybody evidently can attend this conference.
The reporter is cute AF.
Ukrane the new Afghanistan
DISMISS ALL MILITARY ALLIANCES
According to NATO officials, Russia should invade Ukraine at least 10 times at this moment 😂😂😂 The last "imminent" invasions should happen on February 2 or on February 16 😂🤣
The Groundhog day!
@@camocas Putin: oops, my plans were uncovered. I guess I won't invade now!
So is the West's to Russia!
190.000 troops now…..
But I do hope he is right
190 000 i wouldn't underestimate them