In this (podcast) episode of virtual mud wrestling, Jordan engages in an Iliadic struggle to haul Luttwak back onto the track ... to do a quick round ...to provoke a two-word or even two-paragraph answer. The decision: Jordan is awarded points for a noble effort but Luttwak remains undefeated, untamed and flexing for five more rounds.
Just popping in to say that the YouTube channel ‘Type 56: The Story of China’s Army’ is doing incredible work, tracing the PLA’s journey to modernization
Might be a good interview subject for a future episode!
A rambling and repetitive account but Luttwak obviously has had an interesting and unusual career and makes some interesting points viz:
1. Naval competition: The stupidity of Germany in trying to compete with the British navy in the run up to WWI. The thesis is that for German colonial and commercial interests to be protected there was no need to waste money on building up a German fleet to rival the British (except in case of war of course). Bismarck rightly thought that German colonial expansion was a waste of effort and would unnecessarily bring a "satisfied" Germany into conflict with France and Britain.
Luttwak makes a similar point about the current build-up of the Chinese navy in competition with the US. Maybe it is a waste of money seen rationally, if the purpose of a navy is solely to protect overseas commercial interests. Xi however feels China needs a super-powerful navy to stop other countries interfering with their plans for an invasion of Taiwan, and to establish Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea and beyond.
The Chinese are now much more successful in shipbuilding than the Americans - even warships. Trump of course fantasises about re-building the American shipbuilding industry but, even with the protection of the Jones Act, US shipyards yards are now incapable of competing with Chinese, or even European, shipyards. China's competitive advantage in shipbuilding (including warships) will not change any time soon.
2. Incompetence of Gerasimov: It is indeed astonishing that the Russian military supremo was not sacked or at least moved aside, as was Defence Minister Shoigu. Gerasimov's display of incompetence has been amazing. Maybe he has some hold over Putin which we don't know about - like Putin's hold over his puppet Trump.
3. Are the Chinese warlike?: Luttwak is inconsistent in his remarks about the warlike spirit of the Chinese. Sometimes he says they are not warlike (in contrast with the Japanese). Other times he says they are. There are plenty of historical examples of the Chinese waging aggressive war: from the westward expansion of the Tang (checked ultimately at the Battle of the Talas River in 751), through the campaigns of Qianlong in Xijiang and elsewhere in the 18th century, to the Korean War and Chinese aggression against Vietnam in the 20th century (not to mention any number of internal civil wars).
4. Cleon as a precursor to Trump: Cleon may not have been a sympathetic character but Luttwak does Cleon a disservice when comparing him with the moron Trump.
In this (podcast) episode of virtual mud wrestling, Jordan engages in an Iliadic struggle to haul Luttwak back onto the track ... to do a quick round ...to provoke a two-word or even two-paragraph answer. The decision: Jordan is awarded points for a noble effort but Luttwak remains undefeated, untamed and flexing for five more rounds.
Comment of the year
Absolutely wonderful dialogue (maybe monologue?).
Superb.
I found it most enjoyable to listen to the Podcast while reading the transcript.
Just popping in to say that the YouTube channel ‘Type 56: The Story of China’s Army’ is doing incredible work, tracing the PLA’s journey to modernization
Might be a good interview subject for a future episode!
A rambling and repetitive account but Luttwak obviously has had an interesting and unusual career and makes some interesting points viz:
1. Naval competition: The stupidity of Germany in trying to compete with the British navy in the run up to WWI. The thesis is that for German colonial and commercial interests to be protected there was no need to waste money on building up a German fleet to rival the British (except in case of war of course). Bismarck rightly thought that German colonial expansion was a waste of effort and would unnecessarily bring a "satisfied" Germany into conflict with France and Britain.
Luttwak makes a similar point about the current build-up of the Chinese navy in competition with the US. Maybe it is a waste of money seen rationally, if the purpose of a navy is solely to protect overseas commercial interests. Xi however feels China needs a super-powerful navy to stop other countries interfering with their plans for an invasion of Taiwan, and to establish Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea and beyond.
The Chinese are now much more successful in shipbuilding than the Americans - even warships. Trump of course fantasises about re-building the American shipbuilding industry but, even with the protection of the Jones Act, US shipyards yards are now incapable of competing with Chinese, or even European, shipyards. China's competitive advantage in shipbuilding (including warships) will not change any time soon.
2. Incompetence of Gerasimov: It is indeed astonishing that the Russian military supremo was not sacked or at least moved aside, as was Defence Minister Shoigu. Gerasimov's display of incompetence has been amazing. Maybe he has some hold over Putin which we don't know about - like Putin's hold over his puppet Trump.
3. Are the Chinese warlike?: Luttwak is inconsistent in his remarks about the warlike spirit of the Chinese. Sometimes he says they are not warlike (in contrast with the Japanese). Other times he says they are. There are plenty of historical examples of the Chinese waging aggressive war: from the westward expansion of the Tang (checked ultimately at the Battle of the Talas River in 751), through the campaigns of Qianlong in Xijiang and elsewhere in the 18th century, to the Korean War and Chinese aggression against Vietnam in the 20th century (not to mention any number of internal civil wars).
4. Cleon as a precursor to Trump: Cleon may not have been a sympathetic character but Luttwak does Cleon a disservice when comparing him with the moron Trump.