“There will be no Israeli cease-fire” so says, US Army retired LTG Mark Hertling.

By Jack Pagano
jack@thetampapost.com

“There will be no Israeli cease-fire” so says, US Army retired LTG Mark Hertling.

Orlando, FL Tiger Bay Club  https://www.tigerbayclub.org

Retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling and a CNN national security analyst gave Tiger Club members a rare view of a present-day war room brief.  The luncheon provided an up close and personal account of the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.    Using slides and graphs, Hertling gave them a rollercoaster ride into the two conflicts with specific do’s and don’ts.  A history lesson of the region with many questions. Did the Russians play their cards correctly in commencing the war with Ukraine?  Did Hamas believe Israel would stop the war and seek a cease-fire?

Tiger Bay Club luncheon with retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling.  The Ukraine-Russia conflict and the Israeli war were topics of discussion. 22 March 2024 (photo by Jack Pagano)

Hertling said emphatically, “There will be no Israeli cease-fire….” That says plenty since the general spent 38 months in combat, led the 1^st Armored Division in Northern Iraq in 2007-2008, and is CNN’s national security analyst.  Knowledge is certainly power and the 1975 West Point graduate knows ground operations and the fluidity of war on the ground.  It’s become a “fog of war” that commands our attention.

Breaking through that fog of war was Hertling’s goal at the luncheon. “It’s a proverbial daily tug-of-war between Russia and Ukraine right now. Russian President Putin will be trying to outlast  Ukraine. A classic slugfest between Putin and Ukraine President Zelensky.” Hertling mentioned Putin’s callous concept of depleting human capital, and soldiers.  “They don’t matter to Putin.  It’s a thrown-together, hodge-podge group with huge losses. The Russians have lost close to 4 hundred thousand soldiers in the fight.”

Tiger Bay Club luncheon with retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling.  The conversion centered around Ukraine’s strategy against Russia. 22 March 2024 (photo by Jack Pagano)

Ukraine has battlefield losses of 37 thousand.  Much lower than Russia. Hertling pointed out provocative slides that illustrate the horrific trench warfare between the two countries. A WWI trench warfare flashback.  In a matter-of-fact approach, Hertling states Putin does not care about the battlefield losses and will drive on…  And he says support from Ukraine’s allies will be crucial.  Will the US continue to fund the war? That’s a question Hertling could not answer.

Tiger Bay Club luncheon with retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling.  Hertling proved a strategy for Ukraine and Israel. 22 March 2024 (photo by Jack Pagano)

As for Israel, Hertling provided more questions than answers about the almost 6-month war in the Middle East.  Like the Ukraine-Russian conflict. Hertling gave a blow-by-blow analysis with slides and information.   Hertling did not mince words, “For the past 6 years, Israel took their eyes off Gaza.  October 7^th was an intelligence and political failure.”  Due to the horrific Oct 7^th Hamas attack, Hertling says, “Israelis will be going into Raffa.” That is where the last remnants of the Hamas organization are located.”

Tiger Bay Club luncheon with retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling.  The conversion moved to Israel’s ground operations and strategy. 22 March 2024 (photo by Jack Pagano)

Hertling’s military background comes into play when he mentions, “There’s no way to stop the Israeli security forces from invading Raffa now. It would ‘be kinda dumb’ to stop.”  In a conversation with WFTV Investigative reporter Chris Heath, Hertling stated in a point-blank way, “Hamas wants there to be casualties.   They want casualties from the civilian population.”  This is why a two-state solution is improbable.  Hertling goes on and says he is not confident that will ever happen.

Tiger Bay Club luncheon with retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling and WFTV Investigative Chris Heath.  A question-and-answer period after Hertling’s “war room” brief.  22 March 2024 (photo by Jack Pagano)

The monthly luncheons are an ongoing intellectual treat for Orlando’s Tiger Bay Club members. https://www.tigerbayclub.org  Each month the club brings in dedicated distinguished experts who provide expertise. A perspective not found in Florida.

Tiger Bay Club luncheon with retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling.  The conversion provided valuable information to Tiger Club members about the Israeli war.  22 March 2024 (photo by Jack Pagano)

Jack Pagano is a retired Army field grade officer with many decades of Information Operations experience and currently working remotely in the USA as COO/Strategist for one of Afghanistan’s biggest Radio/TV networks.  His current mission is getting out Afghan journalists he trained, and mentored who are stuck, stranded under the Sharia-driven Taliban.