carpoftruth

This is a good overview of Taiwan's recent history as RoC vs PRC, as well as the American influence there. Start brushing up on history now to prep for war with China

https://warwickpowell.substack.com/p/dire-straits

Yeah it's fucking wild how much he puts on Trump for causing these problems, with a smaller chunk of blame on Biden. What the fuck were you in particular doing during the Obama regime years buddy? On the three issues mentioned specifically, Obama oversaw euromaidan, minsk2 and arming of ukrainian nazis. He supported the Saudi war on Yemen, which hardened ansarallah into the force it is today. He supported the Israelis during his whole span, including operation protective edge in 2014. He "pivoted to Asia" and encouraged the buildup of proxy forces in the area, tensions in the south China sea.

Further, at best, he did nothing for rapproachment with the dprk. Not to mention the brutality of Libya, the continuation of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, maintaining Guantanamo, and lord knows what exactly his bloodless nerds were doing in Syria.

THANKS FOR THE INPUT BEN RHODES, GO FUCK YOURSELF TO DEATH

These fucking monsters just want to set themselves up for whatever bullshit think tank position where they scratch their chins wondering if doing the same fucking things over and over will solve the problems they spent their careers causing

Ben Rhodes, the Obama guy, on grappling with reality

https://archive.is/BeVWG

Second, the old rules-based international order doesn’t really exist anymore. As the old order unravels, these overlapping blocs (BRICS, CSTO) are competing over what will replace it.

If Biden does win a second term, he should use it to build on those of his policies that have accounted for shifting global realities, while pivoting away from the political considerations, maximalism, and Western-centric view that have caused his administration to make some of the same mistakes as its predecessors.

If Washington allows foreign policy to be driven by zero-sum maximalist demands, it risks a choice between open-ended conflict and embarrassment.

On the one hand, encouraging to see an establishment liberal pumping the brakes on unipolarity, on the other hand, disappointing because both the Biden and Trump regimes have been full of maximalist neoconservatives as far as foreign policy.

Definitely liberal brainworms on display still, like this passage:

American rhetoric about the rules-based international order has been seen around the world on a split screen of hypocrisy, as Washington has supplied the Israeli government with weapons used to bombard Palestinian civilians with impunity. The war has created a policy challenge for an administration that criticizes Russia for the same indiscriminate tactics that Israel has used in Gaza.

NO THEY FUCKING HAVEN'T FUCK YOU BEN

In Ukraine, the United States and Europe should focus on protecting and investing in the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government—drawing Ukraine into European institutions, sustaining its economy, and fortifying it for lengthy negotiations with Moscow so that time works in Kyiv’s favor.

Rofl what does this mean? How is this different from what's happening now? Time will never work in kyiv's favour - that's the problem with attrition war. Every 6 months ukraine is in a worse position than it was previously.

In the Middle East, Washington should join with Arab and European partners to work directly with Palestinians on the development of new leadership and toward the recognition of a Palestinian state, while supporting Israel’s security. Regional de-escalation with Iran should, as it did during the Obama administration, begin with negotiated restrictions on its nuclear program.

So we're still talking about getting rid of hamas. And it is too bad that Biden didn't pursue restart of the jcpoa, but he chose to continue trump's policy over Obama because he didn't want to give the Israelis a tummy ache. He's a staunch Zionist. Note, no prescription for relations with Hezbollah or ansarallah there, just an assumption that resolving things with Iran will improve relations elsewhere. In other words, misunderstanding of the relationships of the axis of resistance.

In Taiwan, the United States should try to preserve the status quo by investing in Taiwanese military capabilities while avoiding saber rattling, by structuring engagement with Beijing to avoid miscalculation, and by mobilizing international support for a negotiated, peaceful resolution to Taiwan’s status.

America's strategy in Taiwan should be to have its cake while eating it too

Overall, not a terrible framing of the article, but truly written by a speechwriter lapdog. It follows the familiar Obama-technocrat style of describing a problem somewhat correctly while offering no material change in approach, without recognizing the true cost of failure. Still, maybe worth a share to the libs in our lives because of Ben's pedigree.

Profit by the cult leader, lose money by the cult leader I suppose

Remarkably sober analysis in foreign affairs

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/middle-east-robert-pape

Hamas Is Winning Why Israel’s Failing Strategy Makes Its Enemy Stronger

Being closer to money has helped me see how fucked up the bean counters really are. Thankfully, I'm lucky to be in a position where a lot of my day to day work is being actively adversarial to environmental degradation caused by capitalism.

A rhetorical flag of convenience

Actually I shouldn't say playing footsie with nazis, this is the nyt gargling their balls

Which type? Isn't one type a lot harder to deal with than the other?

Thank you comrade

I disagree. The whole point of America's security relationship with the Philippines is to do exactly that