LTG Ben Hodges Addresses Ukraine Situation at Hollywood American Legion
On Thursday, in an event put on by media organization New Debate, Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges addressed the situation in Ukraine.
Before the presentation, New Media debuted the new trailer for their organization and previewed their recent documentary “Disinformation” with Doowan Lee.
The speech itself focused on three core reasons why LTG Hodges believes that Ukraine will emerge victorious in the ongoing conflict: national will, logistics, and international resolve.
Concerning logistics, LTG Hodges stated his belief that recent investments by NATO allies in providing long-range strike capabilities to Ukrainian forces have significantly impacted the Russians’ ability to move the necessary men and equipment into position on a timely basis.
On the matter of international resolve, he asked the audience to consider the ramifications to the western world order if Russia were to be victorious, namely that they would be emboldened to move against NATO nations such as Lithuania and Estonia, while other geopolitical challengers such as China and North Korea would be emboldened in their respective arenas.
After the presentation, LTG Hodges joined select guests for a salon in the Legion’s beautiful Trophy Room, where the issue was discussed in greater detail.
The event is intended to be the first in a series of speaker presentations from New Debate, in partnership with the Hollywood American Legion.
ABOUT LIEUTENANT GENERAL (RETIRED) BEN HODGES
Lieutenant General (Retired) Ben Hodges previously held the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis.
A native of Quincy, Florida, General Hodges graduated from the United States Military Academy in May 1980 and was commissioned in the Infantry.
After his first assignment as an Infantry Lieutenant in Garlstedt, Germany, he commanded Infantry units at the Company, Battalion, and Brigade levels in the 101st Airborne Division, including Command of the First Brigade Combat Team “Bastogne” of the 101st Airborne Division in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (2003-2004). His other operational assignments include Chief of Operations for Multi-National Corps-Iraq in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (2005-2006) and Director of Operations, Regional Command South in Kandahar, Afghanistan (2009-2010).
General Hodges has also served in a variety of Joint and Army Staff positions to include Tactics Instructor; Chief of Plans, 2nd Infantry Division in Korea; Aide-de-Camp to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe; Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps; Director of the Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Cell on the Joint Staff; Chief of Legislative Liaison for the United States Army; and Commander, NATO Allied Land Command (İzmir, Turkey). His last military assignment was as Commanding General, United States Army Europe (Wiesbaden, Germany) from 2014 to 2017. He retired from the U.S. Army in January 2018.