Questions for Victor?
Peter Robinson ·
Oct 4, 2010 at 9:50am
Five hours from now--I write at 10AM Pacific--I'll be recording an episode of Uncommon Knowledge with Victor Davis Hanson. My plan? Around the world in 40 minutes, asking, simply, how Victor believes the United States is doing in Afghanistan, in our relations with Europe, in our dealings with China, and so on, allotting each of the five segments to a country or continent.
Care to suggest a question?
- Comment (22)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments :
Re: Questions for Victor?
I think Americans would be very interested to learn who Victor's favorite TV game show host might be. (Unless you have trouble visualizing him sitting in front of his set yelling, "Come on, big money!")
May '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
Well, in addition to Pat's excellent question, I would also like to know if Victor sees any merit in the president's attempt to appeal to ordinary Muslims via his bully pulpit? Does celebrating Ramadan in the White House or wishing Persians Happy New Year accomplish anything that can aid our efforts in the Middle East and elsewhere? If not, is it a matter of degree? What if the Voice of America launched a 24/hour TV news channel in Arabic? Can any of this soft diplomacy have a material impact?
Aug '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
Lebanon / Syria questions with Hezbollah's growth in the region
Whether China and Russia are, or can , work together to destabilize things and continue to grab up energy sources.
Whether the rumor about the Brits and French sharing military resources ,such as an aircraft carrier, will materialize. And, will the French outfit the galley on the ship ?
Why is the left so deluded about asymmetrical warfare, that 9/11 is a one-off, and why do they feel a massive Federal police is any different than the military ?
Highlights from Gilroy Garlic Fest or Watsonville Artichoke Rally ?
May '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
Peter, I have a request.
Is there any move afoot to release Uncommon Knowledge episodes as downloadable files? I love your work there, but try as I might, I can't seem to make myself watch a full episode in a browser--the temptation to multitask is just too strong, and I inevitably lose the conversation threads. I'd love to have them on my iPod to listen to while driving or otherwise traveling.
Regarding questions for VDH, I'd love to hear his take on Mark Steyn's opinion that "China will get old before it gets rich." The follow-on question I'm really interested in is, "If so, then what, considering China's current hell-bent-for-leather military buildup?"
May '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
What would a Republican House mean for our military's budget and foreign relations?
Should we expect any change between China and Taiwan? If so, what might it mean for us?
What is the likely outcome if Obama continues to support the Taliban for the next two years?
Is South America a major concern? What does he make of Venezuela's alliance with Russia?
Who are our most important allies today? Who are the most reliable?
How great a concern is Hezbollah's presence in Mexico? Is the border a major concern militarily?
Edited on Oct 4, 2010 at 10:21amJul '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
How long do you think it will be before Texas or some state in the South secedes from the Union?
Re: Questions for Victor?
Will Collier: Peter, I have a request.
Is there any move afoot to release Uncommon Knowledge episodes as downloadable files? · Oct 4 at 10:16am
I have good news for you, Will: Uncommon Knowledge is already available for download on iTunes. Go to the iTunes Store, select "podcasts," then type "Uncommon Knowledge" into the search box. You'll be able to download the show in either audio-and-video or audio-only format. Hope you like it!
Aug '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
I've always wanted to ask Professor Hanson this:
"You made your academic reputation by articulating how beginning with the hoplites, the West developed and mastered shock warfare, as characterized by direct confrontation and sheer firepower. However most of the conflicts we find ourselves directly or indirectly involved in, especially in the GWOT but also supporting our Mexican and Columbian allies in their fight against narcos, involves lower intensity conflict. What reasons are there for suspecting that the West's traditional and continued supremacy at the kinds of war that involve destroying the enemy will translate into success at the kinds of war that involve finding the enemy and protecting civilians? Should we not even try and rather restrict ourselves to manipulating client states and occasional gunboat diplomacy?"
Sep '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
The history of success with counter insurgency was going to be my question but the question above is similar enough. Max Boot's book is the only effort I'm aware of to analyze the US's efforts in small wars. I respect his opinions but there are others I respect as well who believe our counter insurgency strategy is flawed.
May '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
Can we meet our objectives in Afghanistan? If not, what should our objectives be? Is a gracefull exit possible for the US?
Sep '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
Claire's post yesterday re Iran viz MAD.
Jul '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
Peter Robinson
ill Collier: Peter, I have a request.
Is there any move afoot to release Uncommon Knowledge episodes as downloadable files? · Oct 4 at 10:16am
I have good news for you, Will: Uncommon Knowledge is already available for download on iTunes. Go to the iTunes Store, select "podcasts," then type "Uncommon Knowledge" into the search box. You'll be able to download the show in either audio-and-video or audio-only format. Hope you like it! · Oct 4 at 10:31am
What if you don't have iTunes?
May '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
Michael Tee
Peter Robinson
ill Collier: Peter, I have a request.
Is there any move afoot to release Uncommon Knowledge episodes as downloadable files? · Oct 4 at 10:16am
I have good news for you, Will: Uncommon Knowledge is already available for download on iTunes. Go to the iTunes Store, select "podcasts," then type "Uncommon Knowledge" into the search box. You'll be able to download the show in either audio-and-video or audio-only format. Hope you like it! · Oct 4 at 10:31am
What if you don't have iTunes? · Oct 4 at 12:25pm
Michael, go grab the audio RSS feed at the Uncommon Knowledge link at NRO.
May '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
Peter- I would love to hear Prof. Hanson talk about short wars versus long wars. His historical expertise covers many wars of very long duration (Athens and Sparta was not short), yet today, if we haven't "won" in three years and in the process changed the local culture into Kansas City, we are told things are dragging because the war was butchered, not enough troops, bad ROE, etc.
I'd like to know if the Powell Doctrine (go in with very clear limited objectives, apply massive force, get out fast) has ever really successfully applied to anything besides Grenada. My sense is that to succeed you have to start a war announcing that you will be there for 50 years, or however long it takes to win, period- and then follow through. But modern democracies don't really work that way.
Is it possible for democracies to focus long enough to win wars any more unless they are attacked on the mainland and locally occupied?
May '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
1. If the Chinese military embarks upon a campaign to annex Taiwan, what should be the response of the U.S. government? 2. I have many military colleagues stationed in Germany as crew members of armoured vehicles. Is their presence in Central Europe (as well as the presence of the bulk of American forces there) necessary or is it unnecessary in your opinion? 3. Can you name some of our best and worst strategic decisions in Afghanistan? What's going right and what is not?
May '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
One more. Has the defense of Europe during the Cold War, an endeavor embarked upon almost exclusively by the U.S. military, had the effect of encouraging indifference towards national defense among the European people?
Sep '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
Does Prof. Hanson see similarities/differences between the United States and the Roman Empire?
Jun '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
Pat, what does Alex Trebek have to do with Victor Davis Hanson? Ouch, I know, sorry. :)
I would also appreciate Michael Labeit's question. It just seems that they live in a false world, hiding under our cozy umbrella.
May '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
Will Greece be able to continue to be in the EU over the long run?
May '10
Re: Questions for Victor?
Is there any benefit at all to the US from either UN membership or foreign aid as traditionally dispensed?