"Douthat’s analysis has some merit — from a certain point of view."
Even your tepid praise is too much. Trump has been predicting and working towards Ukraine's defeat for 4 years. He gleefully called Putin's invasion a genius move. Since, his every move and non-move has been aligned with Putin. A guy who puts JD Vance and Tulsi Gabbard into senior positions and campaigns for Orban is an opponent of Ukraine.
It is really amazing to see how far Ukraine has advanced technologically during this conflict. Its organizational ability, innovation and unified defence is a marvel to behold. But so is its resilience: not only in the face of the invaders, but also in its own governing abilities despite some internal scandals over the last five years.
I have a theory about Putin's sidelining his parade of military hardware -- most think he's reluctant to expose the parade to attacks, but I think that he can't spare the tanks and guns. He can't even drag aging tanks through the streets in celebration, like the Shah of Iran did so many years ago. Putin's out of moves.
IDK it's pretty unlikely that Russia is just out of tanks. It's not like they're hard to move around. Much more likely that Putin understands what a propaganda disaster it would be if the May Day parade got blown the fuck up and is acting accordingly
A Straussian reading of Douthat, admittedly contradicted by some of his plain text comments about American empire, is that President Trump's threatening of Europe has motivated rather than distracted greater seriousness on European security investments and anti-Russia efforts in a way that benefitted Ukraine. (Probably not a net benefit, but making up for some of the negative moves.)
If one were to write a scenario describing the rise of a more independent European security policy in 2015, using what actually happened would almost be seen as a silly and implausible, if effective way to get that result.
Of course, Douthat fails to address that in this emerging world, US policy will have to cater to European interest rather than rely on US influence in ways that will have lasting ramifications.
I read occasionally that Putin is increasingly afraid of a coup. Do the hardworking staff at DreznerWorld HQ think this is possible or just wish-casting? (I lean toward the latter, but I'm not a foreign-policy expert.)
Douhat’s analysis is wishful and post hoc. That Trump was really, really, really just playing 4 dimensional chess when simultaneously slapping down Zelenskyy, palling up to Putin, threatening to attack Greenland, and sending JD to campaign for Orbán. No, that thesis doesn’t track.
In the last 15 months or so, our health care, scientific research, labor force, education, library system, foreign trade, and foreign relations have all been decimated. But here, you have given me a little bit of good news. Ukraine is standing and perhaps, has a viable way forward.
I think Ross Douthat is a misguided, camouflaged Trump apologist, so the article's dissection of his argument is pleasant to me. Also, his statement in the quote, "it’s good news for our empire’s sustainability,² not a sign that we’re about to cede global dominance to Brussels or Ottawa or Berlin." is typical for him, in that it is true. But also, I am not worried about Brussels, Ottawa, or even Berlin. But we have greatly aided China and Russia.
Oh, and as an aside, while I am not really worried about Berlin, one should at least pause before celebrating the push to make Germany a big, self reliant offensive, military power. I mean, when you ask "What could possibly go wrong?" There are historical answers.
"Douthat’s analysis has some merit — from a certain point of view."
Even your tepid praise is too much. Trump has been predicting and working towards Ukraine's defeat for 4 years. He gleefully called Putin's invasion a genius move. Since, his every move and non-move has been aligned with Putin. A guy who puts JD Vance and Tulsi Gabbard into senior positions and campaigns for Orban is an opponent of Ukraine.
It is really amazing to see how far Ukraine has advanced technologically during this conflict. Its organizational ability, innovation and unified defence is a marvel to behold. But so is its resilience: not only in the face of the invaders, but also in its own governing abilities despite some internal scandals over the last five years.
I have a theory about Putin's sidelining his parade of military hardware -- most think he's reluctant to expose the parade to attacks, but I think that he can't spare the tanks and guns. He can't even drag aging tanks through the streets in celebration, like the Shah of Iran did so many years ago. Putin's out of moves.
IDK it's pretty unlikely that Russia is just out of tanks. It's not like they're hard to move around. Much more likely that Putin understands what a propaganda disaster it would be if the May Day parade got blown the fuck up and is acting accordingly
A Straussian reading of Douthat, admittedly contradicted by some of his plain text comments about American empire, is that President Trump's threatening of Europe has motivated rather than distracted greater seriousness on European security investments and anti-Russia efforts in a way that benefitted Ukraine. (Probably not a net benefit, but making up for some of the negative moves.)
If one were to write a scenario describing the rise of a more independent European security policy in 2015, using what actually happened would almost be seen as a silly and implausible, if effective way to get that result.
Of course, Douthat fails to address that in this emerging world, US policy will have to cater to European interest rather than rely on US influence in ways that will have lasting ramifications.
Presumably there is a scramble in Taiwan right now to ramp up drone production?
I read occasionally that Putin is increasingly afraid of a coup. Do the hardworking staff at DreznerWorld HQ think this is possible or just wish-casting? (I lean toward the latter, but I'm not a foreign-policy expert.)
It's definitely possible, Russia had a coup three years ago. Is Putin scared of one? IDK does he have a rival more potent than his former chef?
Nothing like a little war for technological advancement...
Douhat’s analysis is wishful and post hoc. That Trump was really, really, really just playing 4 dimensional chess when simultaneously slapping down Zelenskyy, palling up to Putin, threatening to attack Greenland, and sending JD to campaign for Orbán. No, that thesis doesn’t track.
Douhat trying his best to win the Presidential Medal of Coping
In the last 15 months or so, our health care, scientific research, labor force, education, library system, foreign trade, and foreign relations have all been decimated. But here, you have given me a little bit of good news. Ukraine is standing and perhaps, has a viable way forward.
I think Ross Douthat is a misguided, camouflaged Trump apologist, so the article's dissection of his argument is pleasant to me. Also, his statement in the quote, "it’s good news for our empire’s sustainability,² not a sign that we’re about to cede global dominance to Brussels or Ottawa or Berlin." is typical for him, in that it is true. But also, I am not worried about Brussels, Ottawa, or even Berlin. But we have greatly aided China and Russia.
Oh, and as an aside, while I am not really worried about Berlin, one should at least pause before celebrating the push to make Germany a big, self reliant offensive, military power. I mean, when you ask "What could possibly go wrong?" There are historical answers.
As Kurt Vonnegut said, "so it goes."
Putin is learning (the hard way) that teaming up with Trump always leads to one’s self-destruction.