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This week, Troy Senik sits in for the absentee Rob Long as we welcome the always irrepressible James Delingpole, reporting in from this side of the Atlantic on CPAC, Apple, and his imbibing of adult beverages. Then we track down Michael Totten (read his indispensable blog here) for his sophisticated take on what’s happening in Ukraine, Russia, and even Cuba. Also, we’ve got a (relatively) sunny outlook for the mid-terms from an unlikely source. Someone took their happy pills this morning.
Music from this week’s episode:
Don’t Drink The Water by The Dave Matthews Band
The Ricochet Podcast opening theme was composed and produced by James Lileks.
The Oscar® for Best Photoshop goes to…EJHill.
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This show is sponsored by Encounter Books. This week’s pick is Fred Siegel’s The Revolt Against the Masses: How Liberalism Has Undermined the Middle Class. Use the coupon code RICOCHET at checkout and get 15% off list price.
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I can’t believe it took this long for someone to make that joke. ·35 minutes ago
Its a hell of a title.
How often do you get to work Crimea in like that?
With the exception of Lileks, y’all seem to be agreeing with Putin that parts of Ukraine belong with Russia. Are we going to repeat the post-WWII divvying up of weaker nations?
Ukraine has been a nation for “only 22 years”, eh? Was Israel then fair game during its first 22 years?
There’s some logic to what you say, of course. Cultural demographics are considerable to nationhood, and modern Europe well demonstrates the disastrous effects of open immigration policies. It would also be reasonable to note that nations and borders inevitably change, and that it is perhaps futile to insist on the status quo anywhere and always.
But what then are your arguments against Putin? If he had encouraged Ukrainians of Russian ancestry to vote for secession, or even to rebel on their own, would that be acceptable?
I didn’t realize there would be a second discussion of the topic in the podcast.
Stepping from the example of Czechoslovakia: Why is secession okay for Eastern Europeans but not for American states and regions? Are we more unified than they are?
Cuba, the island paradise!
From what I’ve heard, Mexico City is similar to Totten’s description of Havana… with rings of cardboard communities along its edges.
Dear Mr. Senik- please update us on the status of your Sbarro-endowed chair in light of their bankruptcy. Should we eat terrible pepperoni to save your bacon?
An excellent point–and Aaron makes good points, too. I was trying to play devil’s advocate…and ended up carrying the argument farther than I’d intended. The point that Cornelius makes here strikes me as central: There was a deal. That should indeed be part of every Obama speech and statement on the matter.
Stepping from the example of Czechoslovakia: Why is secession okay for Eastern Europeans but not for American states and regions? Are we more unified than they are? ·1 hour ago
The important point about the breakup of Czechoslovakia: It happened peacefully and by mutual agreement. The Slovaks wanted out and the Czechs decided they were happy enough to see them go. Nobody rolled troops into Slovakia to announce a fait accompli.
Stepping from the example of Czechoslovakia: Why is secession okay for Eastern Europeans but not for American states and regions? Are we more unified than they are? ·1 hour ago
The important point about the breakup of Czechoslovakia: It happened peacefully and by mutual agreement. The Slovaks wanted out and the Czechs decided they were happy enough to see them go. Nobody rolled troops into Slovakia to announce a fait accompli. ·1 minute ago
And also, we can’t break up the US. It’d end up in war.
Has anyone ever so thoroughly endorsed marijuana on a Ricochet podcast before?
Heh, everyone should hear this episode of Radio Free Delingpole in which James and Paul Rahe debate drug legalization. It was recorded two years ago (!), but it’s quite the listen. Fred, it’s right up your alley…
I don’t think anyone’s ever admitted to usingit, no. ·in 5 minutes
Not my position. Like Lileks, I’m all for turning up the heat via diplomatic, economic, and military mechanisms (enhancing our presence in the region, not active military confrontation).
That said, I sincerely doubt that gets the Russians out of the Crimea. What it does do, however, is increase the deterrence for any future expansionism. That’s not real satisfying, but it’s probably the best we’ve got.
I was, however, conceding the point made by Peter and Michael: It is material that the Crimea is culturally, linguistically, and historically Russian, as well as the home of a major Russian naval installation.
Does that mean it belongs to Russia? No. Does that justify Putin’s actions? Not at all. But, as Michael pointed out, it meant it was likely inevitable that something like this was going to happen sooner or later. You can hold that position and still recognize that the fashion in which it has occurred is both illegitimate and dangerous.
I don’t think anyone’s ever admitted to using it, no.
From what I’ve heard, Mexico City is similar to Totten’s description of Havana… with rings of cardboard communities along its edges. ·1 hour ago
For a great example of “island paradise” syndrome’s continued existence, I recommend Francis Menton’s takedown of the New York Times‘ recent gushing about Cuba (which references Michael’s work there).
It terrifies me sometimes what you people remember.
Fair enough.
Stepping from the example of Czechoslovakia: Why is secession okay for Eastern Europeans but not for American states and regions? Are we more unified than they are? ·1 hour ago
….
…. we can’t break up the US. It’d end up in war.
That begs the question: Why would it?
I’m not disagreeing with you. But perhaps it’s worth considering why the Czechs and Slovaks were so extraordinarily amenable to the idea. War is the usual result of secession movements, isn’t it?
I’ve long thought the rule of thumb seems to be that a government with the power to prevent secession will stop it, while a weak government will allow it and pretend they approve to save face. Was the Czechoslovakian government too young to be operated by power-hungry politicians who abhor the possibility of losing territory to lord over?
Do divisions of ancestry loom larger than fundamental differences of worldview? It’s remarkable that 5th-generation Americans continue to acknowledge their European ancestries.
I don’t think anyone’s ever admitted to usingit, no. ·in 5 minutes
Gracias!
Great podcast. It was interesting to get several varying opinions on what is happening in Ukraine.
Special thanks to the two James’ for getting Peter to guffaw a couple of times. I love it when that happens!
Peter (and Rob): please don’t beg. And please don’t say Ricochet is ‘important’ – that’s almost like ‘special’. Ricochet provides great things for its customers. Shouldn’t your sales pitch mention those? Isn’t that how sales works?
Speaking of “I am not a crook” and “I am not a bully,” will anyone be able to get Hillary on tape saying “I am not an old woman?”
Thanks for listening, everyone – two great guests. James is fearlessly honest and hilarious; Michael always reminds me that going out there and seeing things is far more interesting than staying home and constructing the next Opinion.
Troy: it may have been inevitable that Russia would want to take the Crimea, but that’s not the same as saying it was inevitable they would. It means you do what you can to ensure they won’t.
There seems to be (and I’m not ascribing this to you at all) a willingness to shrug at Ukraine’s dismemberment because it’s kinda-sorta Russia in the general sense, y’know? As if a nation with borders and its own culture was really just a “breakaway republic” because it had been previously conquered.
Troy: it may have been inevitable that Russia wouldwantto take the Crimea, but that’s not the same as saying it was inevitable theywould. It means you do what you can to ensure theywon’t.
There seems to be (and I’m not ascribing this to you at all) a willingness to shrug at Ukraine’s dismemberment because it’s kinda-sorta Russia in the general sense, y’know? As if a nation with borders and its own culture was really just a “breakaway republic” because it had been previously conquered. ·49 minutes ago
Yeah, we actually agree on all of this. We made the cost of aggression low enough (if there’s any cost at all) that they thought they could get away it. At present, I don’t see any reason to believe that they’re wrong.
I don’t think the cultural factor is relevant because it mitigates what the Russians have done (it doesn’t), but because, with the occupied population somewhat sympathetic to the occupiers, it significantly lowers the chance that there’ll be enough resistance amongst the Crimeans to alter the current status quo.
“Crimea river”
I can’t believe it took this long for someone to make that joke.
Already circulating on Facebook:
No. But they sure did on your colonies. I lived in one – Rhodesia. It was fought between the Russians (Nkomo) and the Chinese (Mugabe). and the Brits ran out of cash and the Americans did not yet know about the precious rare earths for cell phones as it was the sixties and early seventies.
So Russia and China now run mining and sell the rare earths as micro processors for cell phones and tiny devices. Blood diamond the movie captures a tiny end of the wars of the Russians. I was just being told today by an accountant that his daughter is Nairobi, the most frightening city where everyone has a AK47. Yup – Russia’s top export.
So James, you were tucked up in bed safe with your teddy bear, while you Brits left us colonialists to get shot to ribbons. Since I was born and raised there, I consider myself a local native but the black locals have also been driven from these lands by Russia_and_China.
Here’s what my hometown’s Congressman Ted Poe had to offer on the subject a couple days ago:
Century Hitler because Ukraine depends on Russia to survive. He is correct. [….] That’s why I’ve introduced 2 bills today:1. The FREE Act, or the Fight Russian Energy Exploitation Act, would expedite approval of all permits to export LNG from the U.S. to Ukraine, all former Soviet nations and members of the European Union. We can help end Russia’s economic and dictatorial monopoly and pivot Eastern Europe to the West.
2. The Russia Visa Sanctions Act, which would deny the visas or admission of Russian government officials into the U.S. until its military invasion of Ukraine has ceased and Russia respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
In addition, the U.S. should pursue economic sanctions and explore other diplomatic solutions [….]
The world must make clear that Ukraine is not President Putin’s chess piece in a larger game of brinkmanship. The Ukrainian people have the right to freedom and autonomy, and they should not be held back from joining a free, economically prosperous West.
Stepping from the example of Czechoslovakia: Why is secession okay for Eastern Europeans but not for American states and regions? Are we more unified than they are? ·1 hour ago
The important point about the breakup of Czechoslovakia: It happened peacefully and by mutual agreement. The Slovaks wanted out and the Czechs decided they were happy enough to see them go. Nobody rolled troops into Slovakia to announce a fait accompli. ·1 minute ago
And also, we can’t break up the US. It’d end up in war. ·March 6, 2014 at 1:59pm
i think Aaron’s point is why should secession in the US end up in war?
I don’t often agree with James Delingpole, but he is 100% right on this.
I like to agree with James Lileks, and appreciate his optimism about what happens if the Republicans win control of the Senate.
I wish I shared it since right now their platform seems to consist of two planks:
Harry Reid must be deposed. Please God he is, but I don’t harbor any illusions about the Republicans doing anything besides appropriate, junket, and FUBAR things generally if they regain control.
The important point about the breakup of Czechoslovakia: It happened peacefully and by mutual agreement. The Slovaks wanted out and the Czechs decided they were happy enough to see them go. Nobody rolled troops into Slovakia to announce a fait accompli. ·1 minute ago
And also, we can’t break up the US. It’d end up in war. ·March 6, 2014 at 1:59pm
i think Aaron’s point is why should secession in the US end up in war? ·15 hours ago
It shouldn’t. But it did last time. Somebody concluded last time that “preserving the union” was worth more than 750,000 lives or the Constitution. (Sorry, that’s a little extreme, but its accurate.)
Simply put, if states tried to secede, the federal government would go to war to prevent it.