America in Danger: Senior US General Speaks Out

America hasn't seen full scale war since World War II; but could America come together and mobilize if the threat to world order came to open warfare between superpowers.

Many believe we are on the path for conflict with China, Russia, Iran and others who are ready to challenge America for supremacy.

As America navigates one of the most volatile times in history, Fran Racioppi sat down with retired General Joseph Votel, one of America’s most influential leaders and scholars in Middle East policy.

General Votel served as Commander of United States Special Operations Command, US Central Command, Joint Special Operations Command and 75th Ranger Regiment; organizations critically responsible for America’s Middle East operations.

General Votel unpacked the reasons why Hamas chose to attack Israel on October 7th, Iran’s malign influence and proxy warfare, and the responsibility of the other Gulf states in preventing regional instability.

He also broke down the opportunities the United States has in the region across the diplomatic, information, military and economic spectrum of national power; including America’s ability to mobilize for a peer-to-peer fight. Plus he talked all things Ranger Regiment, the officer-NCO relationship, and how effective leadership doesn’t require pages of policy, but a drive to get things done.

Take a listen, watch, or read our conversation with one the Army’s most respected leaders then head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform to catch up on our entire national security series from Washington, DC and Fort Liberty, NC.

Highlights:

0:00 Can America Mobilize?
0:46 China outpacing America
3:28 DIME in the world order
4:15 Combat isn't war

Quotes from the full episode:

“In a word, they’ve had it and they're trying to reassert themselves.”
“Putin has pretty much told us what he wants to do. He wants to eclipse the United States.”
“The countries have the capabilities. What they lack is the integration gene.”
“The Gulf partners, the other Arab states, aren’t that keen on having a new Palestinian state in the region.”
“We have over-militarized a lot of our foreign policy in these areas. We need to be leading with diplomacy.”
“If you open these humanitarian corridors, are you arming your adversary?”
“When I showed up to West Point…instant buyer’s remorse.”
“To me, leadership has really become about the basics.”
“You got to learn to trust people.”
“I had a Sergeant Major. Bill Thetford. We were together for eight plus years; longer than the average American marriage.”
The organization has to be what the nation needs us to be.”
“Wouldn’t it be great if everyone just served the country in some way?”

The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation. Learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video version on YouTube.

Special thanks to Odgers Berndtson for hosting this conversation.

The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation. Learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video versions on YouTube.

The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of the guests and the host. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy.

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[pocketman]

Something I’ll never understand is how does the US have a military budget double the size of the next 10 countries total combined military budgets but yet all we hear is how everything is out of date/obsolete. Where is this money going?

[jamesdc]

“We’re seeing Russians field 1950s vintage vehicles”

*looks at the row of M113s in the motorpool*

[jager]

These generals sounding the alarm act like they are bystanders, when they are actually leading the force, so that means they are part of the problem. Too many Generals, staff officers and useless medals and other silly decorations. Ike had 3 medals before WW2, One for the Mexican Campaign, One for WW1 and a Distinguished Service Medal earned in WW1. These current guys look like North Korean Generals with all those ribbons, LOL.

[LOWKEYDANGER]

A country boy will survive me and mine will be just fine

[randrothify]

Americans today cannot handle the truth. That is why we can’t solve any of our problems today. We will have to make some hard choices initially that will bear fruit later. Instead, we retrench into inflexible, unrealistic, and impractical dogmatic ideological positions and that is reflected in our policies and politics that continues to self-delusionally kick the can down the road.

[georgerucker]

Actual facts. We are nowhere near where we need to be on an industrial level. Im not even sure if we have the skill set anymore.

[TheRomanTribune]

Everyone fights. No one quits.
Welcome to the rough necks

[BrianPatrick-sb]

Tech workers, coders, influencers on Tik Tok don't make 155mm shells or built ahips

[blafonovision]

All that money, how could we not be ready?

[ElizabethHurtado-pyur]

You're ready, do not fear. Stop fighting amongst yourselves and start fighting for your countries safety.

[walter]

Wow, what Votel said about the ship yards is really concerning.

[JosephDeLacy-so]

Maybe, just maybe, we can actually use diplomacy. Most of the conflict that has drained material and morale were absolutely avoidable.

[teambeforeself]

We are facing challenges primarily due to general and staff officers who prioritize their own promotions and self-interest over achieving success. As a result, people perceive leaders not as guides, but as individuals engaged in politicking.

[awakened]

Haven't i paid 13 years of taxes to prevent this? How about you let us know where you failed to prevent this and where all my money went?

[G.I.JeffsWorkbench]

Winston Churchill called it: America will ultimately do the right thing - after they’ve exhausted all other options. The question is, will our future adversary(-ies) allow us the time to cycle thru suboptimal strategies until we wake up and smell the coffee.

[mfireall]

Great discussion, truly appreciated the candor of the General, but we also have to discuss corporate greed and the willingness to finance and build future start-up companies who will build and maintain the military machine. Keep military patents that we pay for. Put those plans in the hands of those who can do more with less and let the free market do its thing.

[sferris]

We do not need to spend more money on the military. Our partners need to do more. Right now the only thing we need to do is continue working our infrastructure. We badly need to improve our ev charging infrastructure, internet (really slow and pathetic), and need to help CA finish their HSR and create nationwide HSR.

[MichaelAlvarez-mz]

Here's a positive, though: with more ship production, mistakes can be made. Yeah, China now has more shipbuilding space than us, but it's about quality, not quantity.

[markberman]

Not one GO resigned after this Administration abandoned Afghanistan in a more disgraceful way than we did Vietnam.

[James_Wallrich]

He’s just saying we’re lazy. Which is kind of true.