On 22 February 2024, I did a lengthy interview with Katie Halper and Aaron Maté on their podcast, “Useful Idiots.” We discussed at length the trouble the United States, Ukraine, and Israel are in, and how that happened — as well as a host of other interesting issues.
Do East Ukrainians actually hate Russia when in 2014 they were neutral and didn’t want NATO membership before the US put Zelensky in power.
Honestly, since Ukraine was known for being the most corrupt European nation, which means that the population was under the control of oligarchs, which have fled into other European nations.
It would seem to me, Ukrainians (by Zelensky’s poll numbers even) hate Zelensky and the US even more than Russia. They don’t seem to like being kidnapped off the streets.
And if you can’t trust the US, as I believe Victoria Nuland would place NATO missiles in whatever was left of Ukraine just to spite Putin, there is also the very real cost of Russia blood on the battlefield.
I agree. The trope that Western Ukrainians hate Russia should be investigated; even in past elections the pro-Ru candidates would often get 40% of the vote in West Ukraine. Also, many pro-EU Ukrainians fled and now live in the EU. A third point- Zelensky has an approval rating of 10-15%, so 85-90% disapproval of his policies. And last point, Soviet Russia successfully contained dissidents and insurrections in Eastern Europe for 50 years; so perhaps they could do this in West Ikraine for a while. I suspect that Russia decisions toward West Ukraine will be driven first and for most by strategic security concerns.
Again, John does not disappoint. Excellent points and I’m truly shocked that U.S. officials do not listen to people like him. One thing, though, when mentioning the New Historians in Israel, he doesn’t cite Ilan Pappe even though the latter has done the most detailed work on the topic. Might be just an oversight.
I great interview with intelligent and pointed questions. This is a masterclass on both journalism and international relations. The questions on Professor Mearsheimer’s military service and how it has informed his evolving, complex worldview was one example of how you fleshed out his understanding of present day events.
Not really sure why anyone is up in arms regarding Andy Ogles comments - that clip will be played relentlessly until he is forced to resign and or up for re-election. No amount of balderdash can undo that one!
I don't know about that, and considering his home town. Did you hear Nancy Pelosi's BS which amounted to saying who cares, we'll do what we want to do. Because she introduced the word brutality it seemed to give her a bit of a pass, but for me. It's like a couple passing a man who is brutally beating up his child, pounding his head into the pavement, and saying gee, he's brutal, isn't he, and going on your merry way.
Yeah but everyone knows Nancy's a drunken old has-been and pays no credence to anything she's ever said - remember we have to pass the health care bill so that you can find out what's in it. He's still IN politics although not for long
I never liked war monger Biden. Never liked Nancy. Can you believe she was on the intel comm. leading up to the war in Iraq and she told people long after the war was over that she knew there were no weapons of mass destruction, so she didn't vote for the war, but told no one. Joe pushed that war even before 2003. I think the sole requirement to be a politician is to have no sense of morals. Is Nancy a drunk, or does she just look that way? We're bad. I hate when Mersheimer calls these people's liberals, providing them with the cover of caring. Yuck!
I miss Mr. Weintraub, a great Western Civ professor from 1990 at the University of Chicago. You were teaching that year also and were considered a good pick for sleepout. I think Mr. Weintraub was the best professor I ever had. Would he have been considered a realist also? I remember he spoke about the Quakers, who took in himself and his sister who were saved from the Holocaust. He said that if you want to be a pacifist, then you need to accept that bad things can be done to you. I wish I would have been older and wiser when I took his course. He invited us for a discussion to his home at the end of the year which was a highlight for me. He was a great man.
Which countries are considered the most trustworthy globally and where does America rank?
Thanks for posting this link. I had listened to the first part of the interview before, but did not have access to the expanded episode.
Fantastic interview! Thank you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GqGCjSANWg&t=2252s
Sure Professor Mearsheimer will be posting this soon. Best interview I've ever seen with Dr.
Do East Ukrainians actually hate Russia when in 2014 they were neutral and didn’t want NATO membership before the US put Zelensky in power.
Honestly, since Ukraine was known for being the most corrupt European nation, which means that the population was under the control of oligarchs, which have fled into other European nations.
It would seem to me, Ukrainians (by Zelensky’s poll numbers even) hate Zelensky and the US even more than Russia. They don’t seem to like being kidnapped off the streets.
And if you can’t trust the US, as I believe Victoria Nuland would place NATO missiles in whatever was left of Ukraine just to spite Putin, there is also the very real cost of Russia blood on the battlefield.
I agree. The trope that Western Ukrainians hate Russia should be investigated; even in past elections the pro-Ru candidates would often get 40% of the vote in West Ukraine. Also, many pro-EU Ukrainians fled and now live in the EU. A third point- Zelensky has an approval rating of 10-15%, so 85-90% disapproval of his policies. And last point, Soviet Russia successfully contained dissidents and insurrections in Eastern Europe for 50 years; so perhaps they could do this in West Ikraine for a while. I suspect that Russia decisions toward West Ukraine will be driven first and for most by strategic security concerns.
Again, John does not disappoint. Excellent points and I’m truly shocked that U.S. officials do not listen to people like him. One thing, though, when mentioning the New Historians in Israel, he doesn’t cite Ilan Pappe even though the latter has done the most detailed work on the topic. Might be just an oversight.
Deaf, is there a transcript?
This interview left. me speechless.
I great interview with intelligent and pointed questions. This is a masterclass on both journalism and international relations. The questions on Professor Mearsheimer’s military service and how it has informed his evolving, complex worldview was one example of how you fleshed out his understanding of present day events.
Not really sure why anyone is up in arms regarding Andy Ogles comments - that clip will be played relentlessly until he is forced to resign and or up for re-election. No amount of balderdash can undo that one!
I don't know about that, and considering his home town. Did you hear Nancy Pelosi's BS which amounted to saying who cares, we'll do what we want to do. Because she introduced the word brutality it seemed to give her a bit of a pass, but for me. It's like a couple passing a man who is brutally beating up his child, pounding his head into the pavement, and saying gee, he's brutal, isn't he, and going on your merry way.
Yeah but everyone knows Nancy's a drunken old has-been and pays no credence to anything she's ever said - remember we have to pass the health care bill so that you can find out what's in it. He's still IN politics although not for long
I never liked war monger Biden. Never liked Nancy. Can you believe she was on the intel comm. leading up to the war in Iraq and she told people long after the war was over that she knew there were no weapons of mass destruction, so she didn't vote for the war, but told no one. Joe pushed that war even before 2003. I think the sole requirement to be a politician is to have no sense of morals. Is Nancy a drunk, or does she just look that way? We're bad. I hate when Mersheimer calls these people's liberals, providing them with the cover of caring. Yuck!
OMG Nancy a raging alcoholic? The both of them are! Her and the husband.
No country on Earth should trust the US, and as a matter of fact, few do.
Thanks for your work John!
A Skeptic War Reports
https://askeptic.substack.com/p/war-reports-2024-02-24
I miss Mr. Weintraub, a great Western Civ professor from 1990 at the University of Chicago. You were teaching that year also and were considered a good pick for sleepout. I think Mr. Weintraub was the best professor I ever had. Would he have been considered a realist also? I remember he spoke about the Quakers, who took in himself and his sister who were saved from the Holocaust. He said that if you want to be a pacifist, then you need to accept that bad things can be done to you. I wish I would have been older and wiser when I took his course. He invited us for a discussion to his home at the end of the year which was a highlight for me. He was a great man.