On 26 September 2024, I discussed the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah with Judge Napolitano on his podcast, “Judging Freedom.” We also talked about the unravelling of Ukraine’s forces in its war with Russia — and very importantly — Russia’s new nuclear doctrine, which clearly draws a red line for the first time in the war.
Do you want peace and prosperity, and not suffer or die in a nuclear war? If so spread this patriotic wisdom from our founding President.
From George Washington's Farewell Address:
" Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. *Cultivate peace and harmony with all. ...* In the execution of such a plan nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations { Russia/China } and passionate attachments for others { Israel } should be excluded, and that in place of them just and amicable feelings toward all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges toward another a habitual hatred { Russia/China } or a habitual fondness { Israel } is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. "
That has always been and remains the US goal but the UK, France and I suppose Spain are no longer a threat; they are our friends. If we can make more friends by say protecting Israel from Iran, in the long run we may have more good friends. For example, Saudi Arabia is still ruled by a King and I don't expect that to change but they are changing in ways that I'm not sure would be possible were the US not assisting Israel as we all have a common foe in Iran's leadership which calls us "The Great Satan." Not because we did anything in particular but simply because they fear cultural influence. Yes; I know the CIA did things but that is not why Iran's leadership has hated us for many decades.
We're kind of stuck unless we want to abandon friends. That is not easy for most of us to do but hey if Trump is elected and we do so, hopefully it will work out for the best. Right now we have powerful friends that will stand with us as we would stand with them. I prefer that arrangement along with the fact that it greatly enables free trade and movement which has benefitted the US a great deal (and world too).
Indeed. The US does not have friends. It does however have vassals. Or, as Kissinger once said: "America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests”.
I can see why you like this man Laura. He’s a smart man. Although he may be right about the Ukraine Russia situation it reminded me of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. The Russians wound up retreating from Afghanistan, the US experience in Vietnam is similar. 2 super powers were unable to attain victory.
I am gratified to hear a man of the professor’s stature state flatly that Blinken is a fool, and a danger to US security. We will have a worse one in the White House soon, I fear.
Russia will soon encircle the Ukrainian salient at Kursk and cut off its supply lines.
• This is what the Soviets did in Operation Uranus in December 1942 *¹* to the German 6th Army under Field Marshal Paulus, who was laying siege to Stalingrad. *²*
• The Soviets encircled and starved the 6th Army until Paulus *³* surrendered the exhausted 90,000-man remnant of the 6th Army to Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky. *⁴*
————————————
*¹* Operation Uranus was launched on November 19, 1942. This was the first major counteroffensive by the Russians and effectively marked the beginning of the end of the German Third Reich.
*²* The Battle of Stalingrad is considered to be possibly the greatest battle in human history due to its scale, intensity, and significance. It was fought between August 23, 1942, and February 2, 1943, involving millions of soldiers, massive casualties, and devastating urban combat. It marked the turning point of WWII.
*³* Paulus, in surrendering the 6th Army, defied Hitler’s fanatical orders to fight to the last man and commit suicide.
*⁴* Chief Political Commissar Nikita Khrushchev was at Marshal Rokossovsky's side at the surrender, the largest Axis surrender of WWII. Khrushchev was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (the de facto leader of the Soviet Union) during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He became very close to President Kennedy, exchanging many private letters and visiting Kennedy at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.
John Mearsheimer is a great theorist of the realist school. However, because most nation states are only realist in the final analysis and ideologically driven in the first. The council of state actors and private interests get the analysis itself wrong! As a prognosticator, John gets it wrong too. But, I love him anyway.
John Mearsheimer, what do you think China and Xi think about Putin and Russia’s new nuclear doctrine? I am not sure Putin is willing to risk a nuclear war. He knows very well his mother Russia will be destroyed if he starts one.
You don't have to preach to the converted, you have to convince the others. Reach of this piece with the Judge: 120,000, audience with Piers Morgan: 760,000.
Do you want peace and prosperity, and not suffer or die in a nuclear war? If so spread this patriotic wisdom from our founding President.
From George Washington's Farewell Address:
" Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. *Cultivate peace and harmony with all. ...* In the execution of such a plan nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations { Russia/China } and passionate attachments for others { Israel } should be excluded, and that in place of them just and amicable feelings toward all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges toward another a habitual hatred { Russia/China } or a habitual fondness { Israel } is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. "
.
.
That has always been and remains the US goal but the UK, France and I suppose Spain are no longer a threat; they are our friends. If we can make more friends by say protecting Israel from Iran, in the long run we may have more good friends. For example, Saudi Arabia is still ruled by a King and I don't expect that to change but they are changing in ways that I'm not sure would be possible were the US not assisting Israel as we all have a common foe in Iran's leadership which calls us "The Great Satan." Not because we did anything in particular but simply because they fear cultural influence. Yes; I know the CIA did things but that is not why Iran's leadership has hated us for many decades.
We're kind of stuck unless we want to abandon friends. That is not easy for most of us to do but hey if Trump is elected and we do so, hopefully it will work out for the best. Right now we have powerful friends that will stand with us as we would stand with them. I prefer that arrangement along with the fact that it greatly enables free trade and movement which has benefitted the US a great deal (and world too).
You don't have any friends.
You have lickspittles, zealots and cynical freeloaders, and the latter are probably the most reliable of the lot.
Indeed. The US does not have friends. It does however have vassals. Or, as Kissinger once said: "America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests”.
https://vimeo.com/918652489
My published warning from May 2022…
If you are in it, you have to win it!
https://substack.com/@erag/note/p-150927246?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=4mvx7k
I can see why you like this man Laura. He’s a smart man. Although he may be right about the Ukraine Russia situation it reminded me of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. The Russians wound up retreating from Afghanistan, the US experience in Vietnam is similar. 2 super powers were unable to attain victory.
Just some thoughts.
Biden is delusional. His advisors like Blinken and Harris, possibly Dr Jill and Hunter are committing elder abuse.
It’s a pity that too few people such as Professor Mearsheimer have the day in the US. The world would be much better off.
I am gratified to hear a man of the professor’s stature state flatly that Blinken is a fool, and a danger to US security. We will have a worse one in the White House soon, I fear.
Russia will soon encircle the Ukrainian salient at Kursk and cut off its supply lines.
• This is what the Soviets did in Operation Uranus in December 1942 *¹* to the German 6th Army under Field Marshal Paulus, who was laying siege to Stalingrad. *²*
• The Soviets encircled and starved the 6th Army until Paulus *³* surrendered the exhausted 90,000-man remnant of the 6th Army to Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky. *⁴*
————————————
*¹* Operation Uranus was launched on November 19, 1942. This was the first major counteroffensive by the Russians and effectively marked the beginning of the end of the German Third Reich.
*²* The Battle of Stalingrad is considered to be possibly the greatest battle in human history due to its scale, intensity, and significance. It was fought between August 23, 1942, and February 2, 1943, involving millions of soldiers, massive casualties, and devastating urban combat. It marked the turning point of WWII.
*³* Paulus, in surrendering the 6th Army, defied Hitler’s fanatical orders to fight to the last man and commit suicide.
*⁴* Chief Political Commissar Nikita Khrushchev was at Marshal Rokossovsky's side at the surrender, the largest Axis surrender of WWII. Khrushchev was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (the de facto leader of the Soviet Union) during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He became very close to President Kennedy, exchanging many private letters and visiting Kennedy at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.
Great discussion! Thank you both. If only our government would pay attention to this analysis.
John Mearsheimer is a great theorist of the realist school. However, because most nation states are only realist in the final analysis and ideologically driven in the first. The council of state actors and private interests get the analysis itself wrong! As a prognosticator, John gets it wrong too. But, I love him anyway.
John Mearsheimer, what do you think China and Xi think about Putin and Russia’s new nuclear doctrine? I am not sure Putin is willing to risk a nuclear war. He knows very well his mother Russia will be destroyed if he starts one.
Excellent commentary.
Always a pleasure to watch you with the judge!...what a difference from talking to Piers Morgan!
You don't have to preach to the converted, you have to convince the others. Reach of this piece with the Judge: 120,000, audience with Piers Morgan: 760,000.
True...though it's such a torture to listen to Piers! But yes, you are right.