Considering that the US military managed to lose 18 military bases in an offensive action, one would hope that it is looking for better strategists than those upon whom it has been relying.
The Pentagon has fired its top military strategist as Washington draws up contingency plans for a possible escalation of hostilities with Iran.
Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia has been removed from his position as director for strategy, plans, and policy (J5) on the Joint Staff, a spokesman confirmed late Wednesday, following media reports of his dismissal. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced into retirement a year ago amid reported friction with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine. Sylvia previously served as vice director of the J5.
The Pentagon did not explain Sylvia’s departure. His responsibilities included developing military strategies and plans to advise the chairman and the US president. He joins nearly two dozen senior military and civilian officials removed during Hegseth’s tenure.
The problem, of course, is threefold. First, this is a war that is manifestly not in the US national interest. Second, the shift to 5GW missile-and-drone-based warfare renders all previous strategies at least potentially irrelevant. Third, it is never helpful to have an allied nation calling the shots and dictating a military’s primary objectives.
This is why the war on Iran was obviously foolish and why success in that war was very low-probability from the start. The US military needs a complete reset, and replacing its top strategist is only the first in a very long chain of necessary decisions if the USA wants to remain a major regional military power.
And the sooner that it realizes it is no longer a global superpower, the better.