"General Designated for Potential Assault against Iran: United States Announces Military Leader"
Unleashing the Gorilla: General Michael Kurilla, US Military's Potential Commander in a Strike Against Iran
Image Credits: REUTERS
If the unthinkable happens and Donald Trump opt for a military movement against Iran, get ready for the grand spectacle named "Democracy under F-35", starring none other than General Michael Kurilla, affectionately known as "Gorilla" in the US army. With a surname that mirrors his personality, the 59-year-old general's character is as hard-hitting as his name.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, famous for his fondness for brutality and military straight-shooting, trusts General "Gorilla" unwaveringly, just like he trusts himself. In fact, the rumor mills are buzzing that Trump also finds Kurilla's straightforwardness compelling - perhaps because he doesn't mince words like Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Keane, who still harbors hopes for a "cautious approach" to peace with Tehran.
THE GORILLA IN ACTION
Kurilla prefers action to idle chatter. He's already sent the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the region, deployed bombers and fighters of all types, and seems to believe the Iranians should reserve a parking spot for him.
A VETERAN WITH GRIT
Kurilla's military résumé can terrify any ordinary soldier. Having seen action in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and more, he's amassed a list of battle medals longer than his list of command positions. In Mosul in 2005, "Gorilla" was shot three times but continued to fire at insurgents and direct the battle, earning him a "Bronze Star", the fourth-highest US military award for valor.
Kurilla has commanded rangers, paratroopers, special forces – it's easier to list what he hasn't commanded. He's been to Panama, Kosovo, Haiti, and more, all before becoming a general.
With the latest escalation in the Middle East, Kurilla finds himself "conveniently nearby". After Israel bombed the Iranian consulate in Damascus in April 2021, sparking Tehran's urge to erase something from the map, "Gorilla" dashed to Tel Aviv "in case of a counterattack". He delivered urgent instructions to Israeli Defense Minister Yovav Galant and, apparently, even chose fonts for a presentation to Biden with the words "All set".
IN SEPTEMBER, HE WAS IN ISRAEL AGAIN. AND IT SEEMS HE ESTABLISHED NOT ONLY PARTNERSHIPS BUT ALSO PERSONAL CONNECTIONS THERE. RUMORS HAVE IT THAT KURLILLA STARTED TO VIEW THE IRANO-ISRAELI CONFLICT AS A PERSONAL CHALLENGE. OF COURSE, FORMALLY, THE GENERAL IS JUST DOING HIS JOB – WAVING AROUND AIRCRAFT CARRIERS AND PREPARING PLAN B IN CASE DIPLOMATS FAIL.
GENERAL MICHAEL KURLILLA. PHOTO: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
TROUBLE IN THE SKY, NOT IN CONSCIENCE
BUT NOT EVERYTHING IS SMOOTH FOR "GORILLA". IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, AN INVESTIGATION WAS LAUNCHED AGAINST THE GENERAL AFTER HE "HELPED" A PILOT REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF A SEATBELT. KURLILLA SIMPLY PUSHED THE PILOT WHEN THE LATTER ASKED HIM TO FASTEN HIS SEATBELT. AFTER ALL, WHEN YOU HAVE DECADES OF OPERATIONS BEHIND YOU AND A POTENTIAL WAR WITH IRAN AHEAD, THE QUESTION OF SEATBELTS SEEMS... DISTRACTING.
THIS WEEK, TESTIFYING BEFORE CONGRESS, KURLILLA CALMLY STATED THAT HE HAS "A BROAD RANGE OF MILITARY OPTIONS" FOR DONALD IF TALKS WITH TEHRAN FAIL. THE GENERAL MADE IT CLEAR: HE'S NOT ONE OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF DIALOGUE. BUT HE BELIEVES IN SURGICAL STRIKES, F-22s, AND GEOPOLITICS SOLVED THROUGH A SCOPE.
WHILE BY THE RULES, "GORILLA" IS JUST A MILITARY, NOT A POLITICIAN, IN REALITY, HIS VOICE IS GETTING LOUDER IN THE CURRENT WASHINGTON PLAYGROUND. THE PENTAGON IS LISTENING. THE WHITE HOUSE TOO.
READ ALSO
THE LIONESS HUNT: WHAT IRAN'S RESPONSE TO ISRAELI STRIKES MIGHT LOOK LIKE
FEW CHANCES FOR PEACE, BUT THEY SHOULD BE USED: RUSSIA COULD HELP END THE IRANO-ISRAELI CONFLICT
LISTEN ALSO
ISRAEL'S RUN OUT OF TRUMP CARDS AGAINST IRAN. BUT THE US IS IN NO RUSH TO HELP
[1] General Michael E. Kurilla - Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)[2] General Michael E. Kurilla to Lead How U.S. Military Would Respond to Iran As Tensions Increase (newsweek.com)[3] US General: I have various military options for Trump to use if Iran talks fail (rt.com)[4] DOD Identifies U.S. Military Officials Promoted in Senior Leadership Roles (defense.gov)
- General Michael Kurilla's military career, marked by action and decisiveness, is increasingly being discussed within the context of war-and-conflicts and politics, particularly the potential conflict with Iran.
- The current developments in the Middle East, with General Kurilla's presence in the region, have increased the speculation about his role in the general news landscape, as diplomats and military officers navigate the intricate dance of geopolitics.
