Thank you.
Former soldier. Student of leadership & national security. Now a teacher, author, speaker & analyst. Always looking for civility…and new adventures. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hertling-dba-57987066
102,317 followers 214 following 764 posts
view profile on Bluesky
Thank you.
Joining @morningjoe-msnbc.bsky.social during the 7 am hour.
“…I am infuriated that the Air Force plans to grant military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt. She did not die defending the Constitution. She died trying to overturn it.” My latest in @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/honoring-a...
The great @jamiegangel.bsky.social nails it!
Thank you!
The President and SecDef love yes men. That’s very, very dangerous. My latest in @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/donald-tru...
An excellent & extremely relevant piece in @theatlantic.com by former CIA Director and State Department Foreign Service Officer William Burns. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Some Putin history over the last 20 years…some of which was cited on @lastword.msnbc.com last night. My latest in the @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/putin-alwa...
Why I left Facebook in 2016. Hundreds of fake accounts at that time, less now, and Facebook did/does nothing. A garbage site.
That is why I left. Facebook is garbage, tried to report all these back then, with no action.
There is an AI generated photo of me on Facebook. I want all my friends who may see this account to report it as fake, as I haven’t been on Facebook since 2016. Thanks. The age of disinformation is upon us.
I’d suggest you read Red Famine by @anneapplebaum.bsky.social instead.
An interview I did with my friend @katiephang.bsky.social . Any feedback is welcomed (not all will get replies). youtu.be/JOz1pgl4-YY
Well Volodymyr Zelensky may have worn a suit to the White House this time around, but he still didn’t quite get the results he wanted. Professor Angela Stent and @markhertling.bsky.social join @djrothkopf.bsky.social to share why. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Thank you…and @katiephang.bsky.social !
No, I left CNN for a variety of reasons.
Thank you!
Thank you. I take feedback from everyone, but ignore those with little experience in this area.
Today August 2O, Lawrence O' Donnell @lawrenceodonnell.msnbc.com says Trump did nothing after the Alaska summit with Putin while Putin was still bombing Ukraine the day of & after. Here in this clip, Lawrence focused on statements made by retired Lt. General Mark Hertling @markhertling.bsky.social
Joining @lawrenceodonnell.msnbc.com at 10:30 pm ET and we’ll be discussing Russia and Ukraine.
Gift article from The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/u...
Great article. www.thebulwark.com/p/ukraine-al...
Oh my, thanks for this correction. I’ll ask them to fix it right away, but this was on me. I had a brain cramp and the editor didn’t catch it.
It’s hard to take you seriously or take your criticism when you call me admiral.
"In any negotiation, when the aggressor is legitimized and the victim is sidelined, the result will be not peace but disaster." We saw how that worked with Afghanistan. Trump is replaying the disaster with Russia and Ukraine. NEW from @markhertling.bsky.social:
Thanks!
Thanks, boss, @admiralstav.bsky.social
Some thiughts in the Alaska “summit” and today’s WH diacussions My latest in @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/ukraine-al...
Joining @morningjoe-msnbc.bsky.social at 7 am tomorrow to discuss Ukraine and Russia. All sorts of things to talk about.
I’ll be joining Alex Witt on @msnbc.com at 3 PM for a discussion on Ukraine and President Zelenskyy’s trip to DC.
The body language and parsing of words by many key administration officials on the Sunday shows seem to indicate that Russia won the day in Alaska.
Do you know how you counter a powerful bully? You bring all your friends!
Key European leaders rallying around Zelensky, traveling with him to DC, is what leadership looks like.
Thank you.
Joining @jenpsaki.msnbc.com a little after nine. Hope I can represent my friends in Ukraine with honor and respect.
@dasniko80s.bsky.social Niko, you are my 100,000 follower on BlueSky. Thank you, mon Ami!
This afternoon, I told @nicollewallace.bsky.social that I had a sense of “dread” about what might happen in the Alaskan “summit.” After watching the press conference, that dread has come to life. I’ll be joining @jenpsaki.msnbc.com later tonight.
Joining @nicollewallace.bsky.social at 4 to discuss the Alaska Summit.
One of my favorite scenes, Sam Elliott playing BG John Buford at Gettysburg. I feel the same way about what’s going to happen in Alaska tomorrow. And there’s no Cavalry to prevent it. youtube.com/clip/UgkxHeQ...
Um , Jill, I have no idea what you’re talking about. And trust me, whoever it was, it probably wasn’t intentional. 😊
Man, either that guy was damned lucky or he had a great copy editor who constantly helps him out!
History & past operational experiences should influence any future approach to the war on drugs My latest in The Bulwark www.thebulwark.com/p/bombs-wont...
Interesting that this is your take, @risabrooks12.bsky.social, as I remember many of the civ-mil experts chiding me (and others) for violating what they perceived as “norms” of retired GOs when we did/do speak up against specific acts. Can’t have it both ways.
Thanks for the notice. I blocked him
Watching the US prep for a critically important meeting with Putin in Alaska reminds me of students who realize they had an assignment a day before it is due. Hoping I’m wrong, but concerned about the diplomatic approach & the potential outcome.
Gee, please explain it to me. Because as a division commander later I also banned it.
1AD got rid of it in ‘04.
So, please let me know what they do when they see a crime? Because it’s illegal for soldiers to arrest or detain a criminal or suspect.
For the record, our division commander BANNED things called “presence patrols” in Iraq. “If you don’t have a specific task & purpose, your ‘presence’ doesn’t do anything.” National Guard stating they are now doing presence patrols in DC. A complete waste of soldier’s time & effort.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thank you!
The rest of the story on Armenia-Azerbaijan. My latest in @thebulwark.com
Me listening to this divorced reality description of the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
I’m sorry, but “territorial concessions” by any democratic nation protecting their sovereignty and their citizens to any invading army seems kinda nuts, as well as contrary to what our US has always believed. Why is this on the table at all?
Opinion - for your Sunday reading.(ICYMI): "America Is Blinding Itself - In a dangerous world, downsizing our intelligence agencies is shortsighted and dangerous", writes @markhertling.bsky.social at @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/america-is...
"This year, one of the main threats to American national security isn’t a foreign actor, a new technology, or a global trend." Don't look now, but we're doing it to ourselves. @markhertling.bsky.social on the dangerous downsizing of intelligence agencies: www.thebulwark.com/p/america-is...
"...drawdowns [in our intelligence communities] directly affect the capacity to generate actionable, relevant intelligence, not only for senior policymakers but especially for military commanders..." My latest in @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/america-is...
Thanks Eric.
Having been a part of the President’s Council on Fitness during the Obama administration, I can’t understand why the current president would lie about its history. Or maybe I can… My latest in @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/whats-behi...
When employees are asked “what are the traits I want my leader to exhibit,” the number one answer is usually INTEGRITY. People want truth, not lies, excuses or misinformation.
We never did before
Thank you, Christian, for your continued support in Deutschland. Hope you are well.
I heard President Trump say he “solved” six wars. Can someone help me figure out which ones he meant so I can delete them from this article I published today about ongoing wars around the world?
Thanks.
A look at the world’s conflicts, none of which are easy to solve with simple announcements. www.thebulwark.com/p/the-world-...
Yup, here too.
Much of the latter part of my career was spent shuttling between Europe (where I worked) and DC (where extremely bad decisions were being made in a vacuum. I feel your pain. I failed miserably in influencing those who should know better.
Clinton missed the boat on his “one year and out” approach, but that was known to be flawed by every Europe ambassador & everyone at NATO.
The short-sighted approach of Rumsfeld was countered by the creation of the JTF-East concept & the various expanded training sites in Yavoriv, Drasko-pomoski Cincu, MK, Constanta & others. There were hedges & risk mitigation. Unfortunately, this administration likely is challenged to get it.
I’d suggest the DC policy community is often ill informed about what is going on regarding the development and execution of strategy. No offense intended.
And when you say “we concluded,” to whom are you referring, as having served in Europe many times during that period I don’t know of any evidence that was the case, in either official govt documents or military thinking.
True
I disagree with your assessment.
The military was providing support to other agencies, we’re not doing law enforcement.
U.S. troops in Europe are not a Cold War vestige. They anchor transatlantic cooperation, respond to crises on three continents, enable cyber and missile defense, and reinforce the strategic trust. @markhertling.bsky.social on the dangerous idea to withdraw from Europe:
Try reading the article.
No, there hasn’t been any followings of illegal orders.
It’s “strategically shallow and operationally dangerous” to suggest further US troop withdrawals for Europe. Here’s why. My latest in @thebulwark.com
Had the chance to join my friends @jamiegangel.bsky.social & @danielsilvabooks.bsky.social in beautiful Charleston last night for their book tour, the night “An Inside Job” became #1 on NYT’s list. Awesome tour & terrific book!
Sure, tell him!!!
This is awesome.
I did. What is happening is just inexcusable.
Coming up on @morningjoe-msnbc.bsky.social in the next few minutes to discuss Gaza.
You may want to read the piece before commenting.
This was an awesome show with @meidastouch.com & @nicollewallace.bsky.social Terrific substance and exactly the kind of message we all need! Thanks guys, and Nicolle!
I just published a piece about this today. It’s posted.
My latest in @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/vladimir-p...
I didn’t renew my contract with CNN in Dec 2024. I’m doing other things now.
Funny, if you’re tagging me, and I might be considered a military analyst for the media, perhaps you haven’t been reading any of the things I’ve written which reports directly on this from first hand experiences.
This made my day! Thank you to the one and only General @markhertling.bsky.social — thank you for your service and for being a wonderful friend!
After 2 weeks away & a 14-hour flight home, what an awesome surprise in the mail! Thanks, @danielsilvabooks.bsky.social & @jamiegangel.bsky.social for sending this our way!!! (Btw, finished The Black Widow on the flight…it’s currently #1 of the 24 I’ve read so far!)
Thank you, Madam Ambassador.
I wrote about the Nordic-Baltic NB8 alliance last week.
Thanks!
She was remarkable in her savvy and courage.
We in the United States—and across the broader alliance—would do well to study the Baltics. If American leadership in NATO is waning (and it shouldn’t), I hope we reconsider and instead emulate the strategic vision and courage of those in the Baltics. My latest. www.thebulwark.com/p/nato-new-s...
I’m in Europe right now. Perhaps next week.
In Riga, Latvia today. Like other Baltic & Nordic countries I’ve been to on this trip all are flying their flag next to Ukraine’s flag on govt buildings & many private homes and businesses. They’ve broken their suppression by Russia & they’ve gained freedom. They get it!
