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We jet eastward and then into the ether this week, unfortunately without our pal James Lileks who's vacationing somewhere on planet Earth. Our first guide is Elbridge Colby, who explains why we better not sleep on the Pacific theater. Then we've got Rich Goldberg, host of our new podcast: Cryptonite. He's here to tell us that even a smart person like you can wrap your head around cryptocurrency.
The founders get a chance to talk about Ukraine... and that's about it. They had too much fun with our guests and, let's face it, Tuesday's State of the Union address wasn't very memorable.
Music from this week's podcast: Bull in a China Shop by Barenaked Ladies
Peter Robinson
Rob Long
Elbridge Colby
Rich Goldberg
Discussion (18)
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Someone commented the other day, nobody will forget that SOTU address quicker than the person who gave it.
What a great podcast!
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A much needed dose of reality and rationale from both @RobLong and @PeterRobinson in their discerning and probing questions. I appreciate they take the time to follow lines of thought to suss out policies or actions to some ends, and allow us humble listeners to form our own conclusions rather than the typical modern commentary formula of sound-bytes masquerading as conversation, and insisting on one correct outcome. It really allows a greater depth of knowledge and understanding and Mr. Colby’s articulate reasoning lends itself to this format. His “power is a reality” and his statements about zero-sum games in this sense may prove to be crucially important as a flailing administration grasps for ways to conceal its incompetence and unpreparedness for foes who seem to be waiting to exploit it. And thanks for having on (and being a platform for) Rich Goldberg! Overall an excellent podcast - although I very much missed @jameslileks
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It is an interesting idea to say that Taiwan is worth more than Ukraine.
Taiwan spends 1.9% of its GDP on the military and a lot apparently on stuff they don't need.
Ukraine is estimated to spend about ~4.1% of its GDP on the military, and its people are tough for a fight.
Ukraine has about 1.75 times as many people as Taiwan.
Ukraine is the largest country completely located in Europe and about 16 1/2 times larger than Taiwan. Excluding the Kaliningrad Oblast exclave, Putin taking over Ukraine would give Moscow a free corridor to four new NATO countries -- which he does not want to be in NATO: Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia.
South Korea has more than twice as many people as Taiwan.
Thailand has about 3 times as many people as Taiwan.
Vietnam has about 4 times as much people as Taiwan.
The Philippines has almost 5 times as many people as Taiwan.
Japan has 5 1/2 times as many people as Taiwan.
Indonesia has almost 12 times as many people as Taiwan.
I wonder how many of these countries would be willing to defend Taiwan or being willing to support them financially and with weapons the way that many countries in Europe are defending Ukraine?
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If you look at a map, you immediately see that Ukraine is the “boulder blocking the mouth of the Russian bear’s cave”.
Ukraine shields most of Eastern Europe from Putin’s loving attentions: since, obviously, he would love to recreate the system of tributary states in Eastern Europe, as well as the Russian/Soviet Empire per se.
Attacking to the west via the northern route would, of course, put Ukraine dangerously on Russia’s flank, as I am sure his generals have told him.
No, Ukraine has to be subjugated first.
It’s ironic that NATO expansion is blamed for an attack on a country where NATO expansion didn’t happen (partly as a result of pandering to Russia). If Ukraine were in NATO, it’s almost certain that this war would not be happening.
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