Mark Hertling
@markhertling.bsky.social
Former soldier. Student of leadership & national security; Professor, author (“If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal”), speaker. Always looking for civility & new adventures. https://www.markhertling.com
If you have to hear bad news, hear it from Ret. Lt. Gen. Hertling. At least you'll be smarter afterwards @katiephang.bsky.social and @markhertling.bsky.social discuss Hormuz and military issues. www.youtube.com/live/7-bDH0t...
LIVE: Katie Phang Gives UPDATES on BREAKING NEWS - 8/4/2026
YouTube video by Katie Phang
youtube.com
"A water-treatment facility may appear to have little connection to national defense until one considers the cascading consequences of disabling it." There are no surprises here, really. @markhertling.bsky.social on the water system cyber attacks:
Visited Canada this weekend for a Cardinals-Blue Jay series, and gotta admit Toronto is one great, welcoming city with awesome people.
“The Pentagon has an obligation to explain itself to the American people, to our allies, even to our adversaries... and they’re just, in my mind, completely failing.” Rear Adm. John Kirby tells @markhertling.bsky.social the lack of transparency surrounding the war with Iran is a travesty.
Lt. Gen. @markhertling.bsky.social and @pennbarker.bsky.social are live now with Rear Adm. John Kirby discussing the latest military and foreign policy news:
Command Post Live with Mark Hertling and Ben Parker
Join Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker as they cover the week's military and foreign policy news.
lnk.thebulwark.com
Let’s hope this is part of a strategic adaptation. My latest in @thebulwark.com
The Bulwark@thebulwark.com · last wk.We can't know for sure, but it may be getting through to the administration that the strategy of air strikes it has pursued against Iran for five months isn’t advancing political objectives. New from @markhertling.bsky.social:
LIVE momentarily on Command Post, Ben Parker and @markhertling.bsky.social discuss the Pentagon's attempt to lower the count of US service members killed in the Iran War:
Pentagon Hides Number of Troops Killed In Iran War | Command Post
Join Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker as they cover the Pentagon lowering the count of US service members killed in the Iran War.Make today a goo...
lnk.thebulwark.com
"Experienced commanders offer assessments, not proclamations, because every day of combat has the potential to invalidate yesterday’s certainty." Overconfidence can kill. Morning Shots from @markhertling.bsky.social, Jordan Ferdman, and @eggerdc.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/3R4xgde
"Confidence is essential in combat, but swagger is dangerous because it tempts leaders into believing they already know what will happen, or how a battle or war will end. The enemy always gets a vote." Retired general @markhertling.bsky.social has some suggestions for Pete Hegseth...
Trump’s Cabinet of Contempt
There are no lies too small for the president’s team when they head to the Hill.
thebulwark.com
"Neither side wants total war on this, but both are widening the range of targets that could certainly escalate to a position where total war is going to be the result. And that's what scares the hell out of me." — @markhertling.bsky.social
Based on that speech I’m thinking.…I really should have listened to every Iraqi who told me if I paid them they would show me where the yellow cake was hidden.
Tehran still has the initiative: It decides, for the most part, where the conflict occurs, which American assets must be defended, and how many additional missions U.S. forces must assume. Today's Morning Shots from @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social and @markhertling.bsky.social (link in reply):
LIVE at 10:45am ET catch Command Post with @markhertling.bsky.social and Ben Parker, on the week's military and foreign policy news:
Command Post LIVE with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker
Join Mark Hertling and Ben Parker as they cover the week's military and foreign policy news.
lnk.thebulwark.com
Many asked me for my thoughts on the Air Force officer who made political statements on the steps of the Capitol. Here are my thoughts in @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/when-consc...
When Conscience Conflicts With Commission
An Air Force major’s recent protest in uniform provides an occasion to clarify the purpose and value of professional discipline in the military.
thebulwark.com
@markhertling.bsky.social on Hegseth purging military leaders: “It’s scary to me as a former general officer and commander of forces…It's also having a cooling effect on the rest of the force — from lieutenants all the way up to colonels and generals."
Military posture is "principally about preserving America’s ability to act—militarily, diplomatically, economically, and politically—when the next crisis arrives." Not about kneejerk decisions or score-settling. New from @markhertling.bsky.social:
Withdrawing Troops From Europe Is a Policy in Search of a Problem
The Pentagon’s force posture review seems designed to justify a policy already well underway.
lnk.thebulwark.com
The NATO summit is this week. Here are some thoughts on US Force Posture in Europe. www.thebulwark.com/p/withdrawin...
Withdrawing Troops From Europe Is a Policy in Search of a Problem
The Pentagon’s force posture review seems designed to justify a policy already well underway.
thebulwark.com
Perfect timing, perfect place. Thanks @danielsilvabook @jamiegangel for the advance summer reading of Gabriel’s latest adventures. Great summer reading.
"The Fourth of July was more than an American holiday. It had become a demonstration that democratic nations stand together—that liberty, once secured, is worth defending even beyond one’s own borders." ICYMI @markhertling.bsky.social:
July Fourth Is Different in Uniform
What I learned about this country by serving it overseas.
lnk.thebulwark.com
Every July Fourth in uniform "taught me something different," writes @markhertling.bsky.social. "I learned that service requires sacrifice, but also rewards it," "that friendship between nations is built one shared gesture at a time," and that "even in war, soldiers are ultimately defending peace."
July Fourth Is Different in Uniform
What I learned about this country by serving it overseas.
thebulwark.com
I truly enjoyed writing this piece on July 4 for the @thebulwark.com. Hope you enjoy it, too.
The Bulwark@thebulwark.com · last mo."Surely they’ll give us July Fourth off. After all, this was the United States Military Academy. If any place celebrated Independence Day, surely it would be here. Nope." @markhertling.bsky.social on Independence Day in uniform: lnk.thebulwark.com/448wajq
Famous @dailystoic.com.web.brid.gy @ryanholiday.bsky.social and I recently had a terrific conversation that he shared on his webpage...and here he is with "If I Don't Return" at the top of his most recent book stack. Thanks, Ryan, for reading& reporting on my book.
LIVE at 10:30am ET, catch Command Post, where @markhertling.bsky.social and Ben Parker talk the week's military and foreign policy news:
Command Post LIVE with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker
Join Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker as they cover the week's biggest military and foreign policy stories.
lnk.thebulwark.com
Some thoughts on the latest actions by Secretary Hegseth and the effects on a command I know well www.thebulwark.com/p/what-happe...
What Happens When the Country Loses a General
It takes a long time to build up a leader.
thebulwark.com
Most of the U.S.'s adversaries have determined that it's unlikely to defeat our military. As a result, asymmetric warfare has made our enemies look at what gives America power and targeting that. @markhertling.bsky.social's latest defines asymmetric warfare and relates it to the Iran War.
The only thing better than being a father is watching your sons become even better dads. Happy Father’s Day to all who grow the next generation.
Vice President Vance heads to Switzerland for further peace talks with Iranian and Pakistani officials. Also, in a new interview, President Trump said he has “no limits” on his war powers. Ret. Lt. Gen. @markhertling.bsky.social joins Alex Witt with his analysis. www.ms.now/weekends-wit...
Trump claims he has ‘no limits’ on war powers, hasn’t ‘learned lesson’ in new interview
Vice President JD Vance will soon be in Switzerland for further peace talks with Iranian and Pakistani officials. Meanwhile, in a new interview with Axios, President Trump said he has “no limits” on h...
ms.now
