Skip to comments.
The ‘jacked gorilla’ general pushing Trump to strike Iran
telegraph.co.uk ^
| June 19, 2025
| Cameron Henderson
Posted on 06/19/2025 11:50:36 AM PDT by ransomnote
“Shots fired!” shouted Gen Michael Kurilla moments before charging towards the sound of gunfire to save two junior officers.
Weaving through the rubble-strewn alleyways of war-torn Mosul, Iraq, the then-lieutenant colonel was pursuing a group of terrorist suspects when three more shots rang out.
Taking bullets to the arm and both legs, one snapping his femur in half, he “performed a judo roll” and carried on firing his rifle, witnesses say. As the gunfire continued, he covered his troops and reeled off orders while bleeding on the concrete floor.
Nearly 20 years later, Gen Kurilla, who was awarded a Bronze Star for valour and now heads the US military Central Command (Centcom), is once again leading the fight in the Middle East – this time against Iran.
Known to be Israel’s favourite general and nicknamed “The Gorilla”, Gen Kurilla is understood to have been given unusual levels of authority by Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, to determine the American response to the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.
SNIP
According to one former official, his tough-guy persona and commanding physical presence give Gen Kurilla powerful influence over the US defence secretary.

“He’s a big dude, he’s jacked, he’s exactly this ‘lethality’ look [Donald Trump and Mr Hegseth are] going for,” the ex-official told Politico. “If the senior military guys come across as tough and war fighters, Hegseth is easily persuaded to their point of view.”
The general is said to have had more face time with the US president than most other generals, according to Politico.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: kurilla

Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
General Kurilla is in the media cross-hairs which means he is probably quite valuable to the Trump administration. The way they imply his physique drives warlike behavior is absurd when we've got Lindsay Graham slouching around. The article implies Hegseth is unduly influenced by Kurilla because of the latter's muscular build and the fact that he's 'over 6ft tall'. Out of curiousity I paused to search for Hegseth's height and the Internet says he's anywhere from 5' 7" to 6'1" The article goes on to say Hegseth 'sided' with Kurilla over and over. Apparently the man simply can't have an opinion which happens to overlap Kurilla's. We are to believe he's an impressed fanboy instead.
I checked Wiki and that CIA infused source notes:
"He was barred from serving on duty at the inauguration of Joe Biden after a guardsman flagged Hegseth as an "insider threat", noting a tattoo on his biceps of the words Deus vult.
I looked up Deus vult in Wiki, and according to that CIA-infused source the phrase is linked to Catholics in the First Crusade in 1096, the far right and the Christian right etc."
Deus vult (Latin for 'God wills it') is a Christian motto historically tied to ideas of divine providence and individual interpretation of God's will.[1][2] It was first chanted by Catholics during the First Crusade in 1096 as a rallying cry, most likely under the form Deus le veult or Deus lo vult, as reported by the Gesta Francorum (c. 1100) and the Historia Belli Sacri (c. 1130).[a][1]
In modern times, the Latin motto has different meanings depending on the context. While it has been associated with nationalist ideologies in modern contexts, others interpret it as a historical expression of faith and dedication to divine purpose.[3] It has been used as a metaphor referring to "God's will",[4][5] by Christians throughout history, such as the Puritans,[6] or as a motto by chivalric orders such as the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.[7] In the 21st century, Christian nationalist movements, as well as Christian right and far-right groups, have adopted the motto as a catchphrase.[8] Medievalist scholars have criticized this use as harmful and historically inaccurate.[9]
To: ransomnote
2
posted on
06/19/2025 11:59:12 AM PDT
by
MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
(Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
To: ransomnote
Smear journalism meant to discredit both Hegseth and Kurilla. IOWs, garbage.
3
posted on
06/19/2025 12:13:51 PM PDT
by
fortes fortuna juvat
(President Trump is America's long-awaited SUPREME Commander in Chief. Deus Hoc Vult!)
To: fortes fortuna juvat
I WONDER IF I WILL LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE A DECENT MEDIA IN AMERICA EVER AGAIN.
4
posted on
06/19/2025 1:00:11 PM PDT
by
ridesthemiles
(not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Sounds like a fantastic soldier. But soldiers are very poor sources for policy advice. Hammer sees everything as a nail. Just as stupid to have nothing but business magnates or religious leaders deciding which wars we should be in.
His sole contribution should be capabilities. Not “should we”.
5
posted on
06/19/2025 1:15:35 PM PDT
by
DesertRhino
(2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2025... RETURN OF THE JEDI….)
To: ridesthemiles
Depending on how old you are, you may never HAVE seen decent media
6
posted on
06/19/2025 1:20:25 PM PDT
by
Palio di Siena
(Kralik…..you get the wallet)
To: DesertRhino
But soldiers are very poor sources for policy advice. Hammer sees everything as a nail.
BINGO!!
Who gives a fresh **** what some pitbull on a chain says? These Star Club tools need to know and remember their place.
7
posted on
06/19/2025 1:28:39 PM PDT
by
larrytown
(A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Then they graduate...)
To: ridesthemiles
I WONDER IF I WILL LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE A DECENT MEDIA IN AMERICA EVER AGAIN.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There already is decent media online, on radio, and the Fox TV network is usually pretty decent. So I hope to live long enough to see the Marxist-Democrat controlled media go belly-up for lack of audience. Even the dummies out there are getting fed up with the constant anti-American indoctrination!
8
posted on
06/19/2025 1:32:06 PM PDT
by
fortes fortuna juvat
(President Trump is America's long-awaited SUPREME Commander in Chief. Deus Hoc Vult!)
To: fortes fortuna juvat
I agree it’s smear content, but in the smear tactics I see the opposite truths. To some of us conservatives, the article is high praise for Kurilla and Hegseth and the work they are doing. They are over the target.
9
posted on
06/19/2025 1:57:20 PM PDT
by
ransomnote
(IN GOD WE TRUST)
To: ransomnote
They talk like this is a bad thing...
To: ransomnote
To some of us conservatives, the article is high praise for Kurilla and Hegseth and the work they are doing. They are over the target.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Yep, I agree, that’s a positive way to look at it.
11
posted on
06/19/2025 2:19:12 PM PDT
by
fortes fortuna juvat
(President Trump is America's long-awaited SUPREME Commander in Chief. Deus Hoc Vult!)
To: ransomnote
Killa Kurilla!!! I’ve met him several times. Sharp dude.
12
posted on
06/19/2025 2:30:42 PM PDT
by
Mathews
(I have faith Malachi is right!!! Any day now...)
To: ransomnote
according to Politico I see.
The commies at Politico ae revving up the hate machine. Good to know.
13
posted on
06/19/2025 2:32:53 PM PDT
by
NorthMountain
(... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
To: ridesthemiles
SEE A DECENT MEDIA IN AMERICA I don't believe you EVER saw a decent media in America. Certainly not the TV networks, or Washington Post, or New York Times, or Time or Newsweek magazines, or any of their imitators.
14
posted on
06/19/2025 2:34:59 PM PDT
by
NorthMountain
(... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Journalist Michael Yon embedded with Kutilla’s unit. The articles were the best of any embeds during the war. Yon was the one who wrote the account cited in the article.
As I recall, Yon, a veteran turned reporter picked up a rifle and ventilated a couple ragheads during this engagement, likely saving Kitilla’s life.
And of course he got in trouble for it.
15
posted on
06/19/2025 3:40:36 PM PDT
by
cyclotic
(Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
To: ransomnote
That is how I see it.
Gee. One doesn’t have to imagine how they would see General George S. Patton today.
16
posted on
06/19/2025 3:49:07 PM PDT
by
rlmorel
(To Leftists, Conservative Speech is Violence, while they view their Violence as Speech.)
To: cyclotic
Whoever gave him “trouble” over it should do prison time. I am at this point merciless.
17
posted on
06/19/2025 8:47:34 PM PDT
by
MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
(Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
To: ransomnote
18
posted on
06/19/2025 11:48:52 PM PDT
by
CatHerd
(Whoever said "all's fair in love and war" probably never participated in either.)
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson