On 6 June 2024, I spoke with Judge Napolitano on his podcast — Judging Freedom. We discussed the latest developments in the world’s trouble spots and where events are headed.
A great program. So helpful to have a wide ranging view of these many trouble spots. I rely on the Professor and the Judge to bring us this honest information. It certainly isn’t available in the mainstream media.
The leadership gerontocracy is foolish and dangerous. I like your description of the war criminal invited to address Congress- He represents Jim Crow American, which fortunately is in our rear mirror, as a black mark on our history, and it not our values that the apartheid state projects. It’s the Israel Lobby’s values.
I'm glad Prof Mearsheimer reminded us of the shameful performance of Congress last time (something like 3 or 4 years ago) Netanyahu spoke there and received almost 35 standing ovations from our pathetic lickspittle leaders. US government officials, elected and otherwise, knowingly and openly exhibit their obedience to Israel almost as a badge of honor if only to please their AIPAC "babysitters". I am so ashamed!
Regarding Taiwan, this just isn't the US against China. Taiwan has had 75 years to settle its dispute with China and has failed to do so. Experts have said that Beijing would settle (or "would have settled," since the window is probably closed now) for Taiwan being an independent country if it allied itself with China instead of the US, and provided military, economic, and cultural cooperation. Everyone has forgotten that the KMT and CCP once peacefully co-governed China without any central authority, until the KMT started the civil war by attacking CCP-controlled provinces. Taiwan has had the chance to offer a return to co-governance model --- not "one country, two systems," but "two countries, one Commonwealth" --- but never proposed it, as they were urged to do by Singapore. The CCP would have made that compromise, according to former officials in Taiwan and Singapore. Taiwan deserves independence solely based on the will of its people, and having built a country and governance model on its sovereign volition, but it has had options to resolve the war that its long-ago leaders began, and bears responsibility for its own fate.
Here’s another one with a naive view of how the world works. You should listen closely to what the professor always explains on how the world works especially about Realism.
I wasn't disagreeing with Prof Mearsheimer, just adding my own perspective. I worked at a mainstream Taiwanese ruling-party-affiliated news outlet for two years, where I saw how the Taiwan narrative was shaped, and saw the realist editorial submissions that were rejected and heard the arguments that followed. I also did my masters degree in Taiwan and have researched the subject to an extent most others haven't. You can check out my own Substack to see my research on the issue.
You said, “Taiwan deserves independence solely based on the will of its people, and having built a country and governance model…”
Is this appealing to a higher authority? There is no higher authority in this world among nations with power. China does not care what Taiwan “deserves.” The Chinese government does not even allow its citizens to vote and choose their leaders. It’s all about Realism as what the professor always say.
Realist viewpoints embrace the paths of dialogue and negotiation. Former Singaporean foreign affairs minister George Yeo and former advisor to several Taiwanese presidents Koo Kuang-ming said, in their opinion, China would be willing to negotiate Taiwanese independence if Taiwan pledged to accept its place in the Chinese sphere of influence. Whether they are right or if Beijing would laugh at such outreach, who's to know until the outreach is made. Chomsky has said something similar. If I still appear naive to side with such opinion, so be it. But such proposals have been made by ministers who had private dialogues with CCP officials.
You said, “Realist viewpoints embrace the paths of dialogue and negotiation.”
This is like the citizens of People’s Republic of China asking its government for a “dialogue and negotiation” that’s it’s only fair to have elections to allow the will of the people.
Professor Mearsheimer, you mentioned "elites who ran this country back then", but in some very profound ways, that is not correct. Foreign policy was elite-driven (but they had less autonomy than they do today, probably for the better), but domestic policy, most importantly the economy, as well as the vast spectrum of policy matters that shape everything from infrastructure to science and research production—while being far from a theoretical fully equalized Borg Collective style universal democracy—were far more dispersed than they are now. Policy making was truly decentralized and, this is provably true, far more democratic than it is now. It is the performance in all these areas that made the USA a regional and then global superpower, granting its foreign policy establishment the strength it used to dominate.
As the IDF operates in Gaza to eliminate the threat from Hamas, the terror group continues to use schools, mosques, and civilian homes as bases for attacks on Israeli soldiers. The Israeli Air Force carried out an airstrike on a compound used by dozens of Hamas terrorists, deliberately built inside an UNRWA school. 20-30 Hamas operatives were using the school's classrooms to plan attacks and store weapons.
While many in the media and some anti-Israel members of Congress were quick to condemn Israel at the first reports of the strike, the IDF outlined its extensive precautions to prevent civilian casualties. The airstrikes were delayed twice when civilians were identified in the area and conducted only when intelligence and surveillance indicated no women or children were inside the Hamas compound.
And, to the extent that innocent civilians were harmed, only Hamas is to blame.
The Israeli ceasefire proposal announced by Biden admits that Israel cannot defeat Hamas. Unless this war ends soon, Israel is on a self-destructive path. Unfortunately, as Israel gets more desperate, it will kill more women and children.
Israel might not be able to defeat Hamas’s radical Islamic ideology, but they can destroy all tunnels, weapons, and hopefully leaders. No Israeli government is going to agree to a ceasefire without achieving these goals. Of course, the war could end immediately if Hamas released all hostages and its leaders surrendered. However, since Hamas doesn’t care about Gaza’s civilians, they will not agree to this.
According to the Israeli ceasefire proposal, rebuilding of Gaza will begin in phase 3. I am sure this will include rebuilding of the tunnels. As long as there is occupation and apartheid, the Palestinians will continue to resist. The Palestinians have the right to defend against its occupiers.
How did the IDF know there were 20-30 Hamas using my classrooms to plan attacks? Why did dozens of children die if the IDF was carefully surveying the compound? Why were only children found n the rubble and no Hamas fighters or weapons? Why does Israel claim to be carefully trying to avoid civilian deaths yet they haven’t let enough aid in to prevent famine? Why does the IDF claim they aren’t targeting civilians yet 80% of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed? Why do you insist Israel isn’t carrying out genocide even though the government has explicitly called for genocide dozens of times? Why do you find it impossible to sympathize with tens of thousands of innocent children killed in cold blood?
1. **How did the IDF know there were 20-30 Hamas using classrooms to plan attacks?**
- The IDF relies on a combination of intelligence sources, including surveillance, human intelligence, and electronic monitoring, to identify militant activities. This information often includes corroborative evidence from multiple channels to confirm the presence of militants.
2. **Why did dozens of children die if the IDF was carefully surveying the compound?**
- The tragic loss of civilian lives, including children, is often a result of Hamas using densely populated civilian areas for military operations. Despite the IDF's efforts to minimize civilian casualties through precise targeting and warnings, the presence of militants in these areas significantly increases the risk to non-combatants.
3. **Why were only children found in the rubble and no Hamas fighters or weapons?**
- Initial reports from conflict zones can be incomplete. The absence of visible militants or weapons does not necessarily mean they were not present; they could have been removed or their remains might not be immediately identifiable. Militants often use civilian areas and human shields, complicating the aftermath of strikes.
4. **Why does Israel claim to be carefully trying to avoid civilian deaths yet they haven’t let enough aid in to prevent famine?**
- Israel asserts its commitment to minimizing civilian casualties and facilitating humanitarian aid. However, restrictions on aid are often necessary to prevent materials from being diverted for military use by Hamas. Balancing security needs with humanitarian obligations is a challenging but critical task.
5. **Why does the IDF claim they aren’t targeting civilians yet 80% of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed?**
- The high level of destruction is due to Hamas operating within civilian infrastructure, using homes, schools, and hospitals for military purposes. The IDF targets what it identifies as military assets, but urban warfare in such densely populated areas inevitably leads to widespread damage. Notably, John Spencer, an expert in urban warfare from West Point, has reviewed the evidence and believes that the civilian casualty numbers in Gaza are much lower than in any other urban warfare in modern history.
6. **Why do you insist Israel isn’t carrying out genocide even though the government has explicitly called for genocide dozens of times?**
- There has been no formal charge of genocide against Israel. The only attempted genocide was by Hamas on October 7, when they intentionally killed as many civilians as possible. If Israel's objective were genocide, it could have destroyed Gaza quickly, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. Instead, Israel conducts operations carefully, often putting their own soldiers at risk to minimize civilian casualties.
7. **Why do you find it impossible to sympathize with tens of thousands of innocent children killed in cold blood?**
- The loss of innocent lives, especially children, is tragic and primarily a result of Hamas using them as human shields. Additionally, any casualty numbers reported by Hamas should be deemed untrustworthy, as they use these figures for public relations purposes.
Look, I don’t know who you are or what motivates you to compose such complicated notes, but no credible source for any of these statements exists. You may choose to believe what the Israeli government representatives say, but almost no one outside of Israel does. They are, famously, the world’s least credible people. They lie as easily as they brea, and the whole world is learning this very quickly. If you want to be believed by anyone, cite reliable, neutral sources. Israelis are not that. I know this from many decades of experience with them. I had family there, and I lived there myself as well. I experienced their racism and their duplicity first hand. They make Donald Trump seem like St Thomas. Thanks for listening.
I don’t know if anyone even read that at all. Nobody reads anything that long especially from someone unknown. People will just read the title and a couple of lines. That alone is enough to detect if it’s BS or propaganda. Three seconds tops, people will scroll away.
A great program. So helpful to have a wide ranging view of these many trouble spots. I rely on the Professor and the Judge to bring us this honest information. It certainly isn’t available in the mainstream media.
The leadership gerontocracy is foolish and dangerous. I like your description of the war criminal invited to address Congress- He represents Jim Crow American, which fortunately is in our rear mirror, as a black mark on our history, and it not our values that the apartheid state projects. It’s the Israel Lobby’s values.
I'm glad Prof Mearsheimer reminded us of the shameful performance of Congress last time (something like 3 or 4 years ago) Netanyahu spoke there and received almost 35 standing ovations from our pathetic lickspittle leaders. US government officials, elected and otherwise, knowingly and openly exhibit their obedience to Israel almost as a badge of honor if only to please their AIPAC "babysitters". I am so ashamed!
in sixty-seven eighth of june
thirty-four lives ended too soon
two hundred ninety-four on board
their duty to spy and record
.
they wounded one seventy two
and tried to torpedo them too
israel's attacks relentless
on our Liberty defenseless
.
The Worlds Most Dangerous Poet
Regarding Taiwan, this just isn't the US against China. Taiwan has had 75 years to settle its dispute with China and has failed to do so. Experts have said that Beijing would settle (or "would have settled," since the window is probably closed now) for Taiwan being an independent country if it allied itself with China instead of the US, and provided military, economic, and cultural cooperation. Everyone has forgotten that the KMT and CCP once peacefully co-governed China without any central authority, until the KMT started the civil war by attacking CCP-controlled provinces. Taiwan has had the chance to offer a return to co-governance model --- not "one country, two systems," but "two countries, one Commonwealth" --- but never proposed it, as they were urged to do by Singapore. The CCP would have made that compromise, according to former officials in Taiwan and Singapore. Taiwan deserves independence solely based on the will of its people, and having built a country and governance model on its sovereign volition, but it has had options to resolve the war that its long-ago leaders began, and bears responsibility for its own fate.
Here’s another one with a naive view of how the world works. You should listen closely to what the professor always explains on how the world works especially about Realism.
I wasn't disagreeing with Prof Mearsheimer, just adding my own perspective. I worked at a mainstream Taiwanese ruling-party-affiliated news outlet for two years, where I saw how the Taiwan narrative was shaped, and saw the realist editorial submissions that were rejected and heard the arguments that followed. I also did my masters degree in Taiwan and have researched the subject to an extent most others haven't. You can check out my own Substack to see my research on the issue.
You said, “Taiwan deserves independence solely based on the will of its people, and having built a country and governance model…”
Is this appealing to a higher authority? There is no higher authority in this world among nations with power. China does not care what Taiwan “deserves.” The Chinese government does not even allow its citizens to vote and choose their leaders. It’s all about Realism as what the professor always say.
Realist viewpoints embrace the paths of dialogue and negotiation. Former Singaporean foreign affairs minister George Yeo and former advisor to several Taiwanese presidents Koo Kuang-ming said, in their opinion, China would be willing to negotiate Taiwanese independence if Taiwan pledged to accept its place in the Chinese sphere of influence. Whether they are right or if Beijing would laugh at such outreach, who's to know until the outreach is made. Chomsky has said something similar. If I still appear naive to side with such opinion, so be it. But such proposals have been made by ministers who had private dialogues with CCP officials.
You said, “Realist viewpoints embrace the paths of dialogue and negotiation.”
This is like the citizens of People’s Republic of China asking its government for a “dialogue and negotiation” that’s it’s only fair to have elections to allow the will of the people.
Thanks for your feedback!
This Gordian knot of the Middle East cannot be untied with the sword, as Alexander did.
Professor Mearsheimer, you mentioned "elites who ran this country back then", but in some very profound ways, that is not correct. Foreign policy was elite-driven (but they had less autonomy than they do today, probably for the better), but domestic policy, most importantly the economy, as well as the vast spectrum of policy matters that shape everything from infrastructure to science and research production—while being far from a theoretical fully equalized Borg Collective style universal democracy—were far more dispersed than they are now. Policy making was truly decentralized and, this is provably true, far more democratic than it is now. It is the performance in all these areas that made the USA a regional and then global superpower, granting its foreign policy establishment the strength it used to dominate.
As the IDF operates in Gaza to eliminate the threat from Hamas, the terror group continues to use schools, mosques, and civilian homes as bases for attacks on Israeli soldiers. The Israeli Air Force carried out an airstrike on a compound used by dozens of Hamas terrorists, deliberately built inside an UNRWA school. 20-30 Hamas operatives were using the school's classrooms to plan attacks and store weapons.
While many in the media and some anti-Israel members of Congress were quick to condemn Israel at the first reports of the strike, the IDF outlined its extensive precautions to prevent civilian casualties. The airstrikes were delayed twice when civilians were identified in the area and conducted only when intelligence and surveillance indicated no women or children were inside the Hamas compound.
And, to the extent that innocent civilians were harmed, only Hamas is to blame.
The value of one dead Hamas, and the tactical achievement of denying their use of a school and hospital.
Is only apparent to you!
Kill Hamas. Don’t stop until they are destroyed.
The Israeli ceasefire proposal announced by Biden admits that Israel cannot defeat Hamas. Unless this war ends soon, Israel is on a self-destructive path. Unfortunately, as Israel gets more desperate, it will kill more women and children.
Israel might not be able to defeat Hamas’s radical Islamic ideology, but they can destroy all tunnels, weapons, and hopefully leaders. No Israeli government is going to agree to a ceasefire without achieving these goals. Of course, the war could end immediately if Hamas released all hostages and its leaders surrendered. However, since Hamas doesn’t care about Gaza’s civilians, they will not agree to this.
According to the Israeli ceasefire proposal, rebuilding of Gaza will begin in phase 3. I am sure this will include rebuilding of the tunnels. As long as there is occupation and apartheid, the Palestinians will continue to resist. The Palestinians have the right to defend against its occupiers.
Israel vacated Gaza in 2005. No occupation. No apartheid.
Will Israel agree to the Israeli ceasefire proposal? LOL
Stretch goal!
How did the IDF know there were 20-30 Hamas using my classrooms to plan attacks? Why did dozens of children die if the IDF was carefully surveying the compound? Why were only children found n the rubble and no Hamas fighters or weapons? Why does Israel claim to be carefully trying to avoid civilian deaths yet they haven’t let enough aid in to prevent famine? Why does the IDF claim they aren’t targeting civilians yet 80% of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed? Why do you insist Israel isn’t carrying out genocide even though the government has explicitly called for genocide dozens of times? Why do you find it impossible to sympathize with tens of thousands of innocent children killed in cold blood?
Not even one of your statements is accurate.
They’re all accurate, which one do you not think is?
All your statements are accurate, Germaine. You are absolutely right.
1. **How did the IDF know there were 20-30 Hamas using classrooms to plan attacks?**
- The IDF relies on a combination of intelligence sources, including surveillance, human intelligence, and electronic monitoring, to identify militant activities. This information often includes corroborative evidence from multiple channels to confirm the presence of militants.
2. **Why did dozens of children die if the IDF was carefully surveying the compound?**
- The tragic loss of civilian lives, including children, is often a result of Hamas using densely populated civilian areas for military operations. Despite the IDF's efforts to minimize civilian casualties through precise targeting and warnings, the presence of militants in these areas significantly increases the risk to non-combatants.
3. **Why were only children found in the rubble and no Hamas fighters or weapons?**
- Initial reports from conflict zones can be incomplete. The absence of visible militants or weapons does not necessarily mean they were not present; they could have been removed or their remains might not be immediately identifiable. Militants often use civilian areas and human shields, complicating the aftermath of strikes.
4. **Why does Israel claim to be carefully trying to avoid civilian deaths yet they haven’t let enough aid in to prevent famine?**
- Israel asserts its commitment to minimizing civilian casualties and facilitating humanitarian aid. However, restrictions on aid are often necessary to prevent materials from being diverted for military use by Hamas. Balancing security needs with humanitarian obligations is a challenging but critical task.
5. **Why does the IDF claim they aren’t targeting civilians yet 80% of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed?**
- The high level of destruction is due to Hamas operating within civilian infrastructure, using homes, schools, and hospitals for military purposes. The IDF targets what it identifies as military assets, but urban warfare in such densely populated areas inevitably leads to widespread damage. Notably, John Spencer, an expert in urban warfare from West Point, has reviewed the evidence and believes that the civilian casualty numbers in Gaza are much lower than in any other urban warfare in modern history.
6. **Why do you insist Israel isn’t carrying out genocide even though the government has explicitly called for genocide dozens of times?**
- There has been no formal charge of genocide against Israel. The only attempted genocide was by Hamas on October 7, when they intentionally killed as many civilians as possible. If Israel's objective were genocide, it could have destroyed Gaza quickly, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. Instead, Israel conducts operations carefully, often putting their own soldiers at risk to minimize civilian casualties.
7. **Why do you find it impossible to sympathize with tens of thousands of innocent children killed in cold blood?**
- The loss of innocent lives, especially children, is tragic and primarily a result of Hamas using them as human shields. Additionally, any casualty numbers reported by Hamas should be deemed untrustworthy, as they use these figures for public relations purposes.
Look, I don’t know who you are or what motivates you to compose such complicated notes, but no credible source for any of these statements exists. You may choose to believe what the Israeli government representatives say, but almost no one outside of Israel does. They are, famously, the world’s least credible people. They lie as easily as they brea, and the whole world is learning this very quickly. If you want to be believed by anyone, cite reliable, neutral sources. Israelis are not that. I know this from many decades of experience with them. I had family there, and I lived there myself as well. I experienced their racism and their duplicity first hand. They make Donald Trump seem like St Thomas. Thanks for listening.
Excellent answer, Sera. I agree one hundred percent with you.
I don’t know if anyone even read that at all. Nobody reads anything that long especially from someone unknown. People will just read the title and a couple of lines. That alone is enough to detect if it’s BS or propaganda. Three seconds tops, people will scroll away.
The Palestinians have never agreed to live in peace in their own country next to Israel. Never. Their predicament is their own making.
That is is disingenuous and all without evidence