Nobody seems to remember that Dreadnaughts were not great for British naval dominance because the Royal Navy's relative strength was much greater in pre-Dreadnaughts.

While the Trump administration’s approach to Taiwan is continuing to coalesce, current signs indicate no dramatic departure from long-standing positions.

My takes on Venezuela: 1. The U.S. will win the conventional phase. 2. The Chavista insurgency, save ELN and FARC dissidents groups, will not materialize. 3. The U.S. will lose surface ships and other kit that will set back our efforts in Pacific. 4. Few will notice 3 until 2027 when we need them.

I know that it's unfashionable to say this in defense circles, but Venezuela has cheap Iranian offshore patrol vessels with anti-ship missiles too. These may be detectable, but the cost they can impose on American warships will be far greater than they are worth.

If you care about topics like coup contagion and authoritarian resilience, please check out our latest

The planned frigates may not be able to deter China. www.twz.com/sea/navys-ne...

Capability is glamorous. It looks good: more intimidating. It shows off latest tech. It says technology will master brute numbers. Capacity is dull: affordable kit that prizes durability. It's large numbers makes it common. But as Thomas Callaghan Jr. said, quantity has a quality of its own.

We need more warships (and subs) to deter China in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and compete with Russia over the Arctic. But that means affordable and durable platforms in large numbers and rapidly delivered. I don't see how a new class of warships achieves any of that. I hope to be proven wrong.

Battleships? I thought we are all in on the Monroe Doctrine. Th4 surface ships we need in the Western Hemisphere are frigates, corvettes and perhaps a few monitors for kicks. I think, what we'll get are overpriced, over engineered Cruisers or Destroyers with a state name.

Archives give you context. It also reveals new information you weren't looking for. I found out at the British National Archives why India still operates the 3rd gen. Jaguar fighter jet: it can operate from air fields; add being nuke capable. Or, Thatcher was a personal friend of Kenya's Moi. 1/3

The Peron 1973-1974 vibes intensify every day, and I am scared it will get to 1974-1976 with consequences no side, including the various factions in the ruling party, fully comprehend.

Bangladesh is heading toward a transition from a junta civico-militar, where the military backs a government led by civilian technocrats, to a military dictatorship. It will end lawlessness and religious violence by Islamists. OTOH, democracy will be buried for a long time. India will support it.

India's efforts at defense indigenization is failing pretty badly despite the hot rhetoric. PS. Neither mentioned in this article nor in DC: how the U.S. and its allies can leverage that to bring India closer and balance China. swarajyamag.com/defence/why-...

Defeats in war affects all societies. Defeat in Sri Lanka is partly why the India's Congress Party lost its dominance. Defeat in Vietnam partly explains 1970s politics in America. Democracy in Argentina arose after Falklands in 1982. So, is American politics now after our defeat in Afghanistan.

The median age of a primetime network TV viewer was 64.6 in 2024. The most viewed network TV show in Sept, 2024 to May, 2025 was 17.34 million (across all platforms). To put it in perspective, the lowest top viewership TV show in the 2000s had 22.97 millions. Seinfeld had 34.10 million in 1997-98.

A bit on politics that many of us are ignoring: things don't happen because X or Y in leadership positions want it. Their opponents and allies also have their moves. Then there are random events like a terror strike or natural disasters. These can shape outcomes in completely unexpected ways.

Heir apparent of the dying monarch needs a set of fanatical loyalists to secure his claim to the throne. Problem is that ultraloyalists are divided among themselves about what they support: Catholicism or absolute rule or merely lower taxes? While the disloyal parliament awaits a Cromwellian leader.

BTW, while Japan's rearming and concerns around it are well known, the Chinese diaspora's influence in politics in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand is less known. It's not all pro-China, but Singapore's pro-China stance and political instability in Thailand (and now war) has to partly do with it.

European politics has a pan-Slavic angle many ignore at their own peril. It's like German rearmament: Poland and France really want it right up until it's happening. I think, both these issues need a realistic debate. Debates in Asia on Japanese rearmament and the Chinese diaspora are ugly but open.

Fighting continues, but do expect Thailand to eventually cease operations. Likely later this week or next once they feel they have achieved their objectives.

"Have you heard about the terrible economy?" papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

I am glad there are short reels that now show men how to wear formal clothes, be it suits and ties or trousers and shoes. The absolute garbage men's formal fashion that veers from DGAF shabby to muscle-bro needs remedying. It's about being presentable and professional, but also respecting others.

Ironically, the Epstein files are doing the Dems a major favor by burying the Clintons forever. Them and Chomsky.

Dear Americanists, To get the Heritage American politics, look up politics of Other Backward Classes (OBC) in India. The OBC are neither Dalits (ex-untouchables) nor Upper Castes. Their politics centers on dignity, seeks affirmative action, is violent, and anti-institutional. Best, A Comparativist

So, are Native Americans and Hispanics who were in the parts ceded to the United States by Mexico after 1848 Heritage Americans or not? Also, Puerto Ricans? Post-1989 Euros? Coming from India and watching folks propose a caste system in America is quite epic. BTW, casta did exist in Latin America.

Look Folks, when experts in DC have to turn into cheerleaders for the countries they research in order to get access to that country's senior leaders and information, also because they just got lazy and enjoy the goodies, their insights and policy prescriptions for the U.S. will be rubbish.

Junghans watches! For the man who appreciates Bauhaus and Artillery Fuzes. lol

Sometimes life imitates art. Black Square by Kazimir Malevich, 1915.

God! I can't believe someone going from a House incumbent to failed nominee for UN Ambassador to failed gubernatorial candidate, and ultimately giving up the House seat. All within around 12 months. Whatever your politics is, this is an epic disaster.

Despite his fiery anti-American speeches, Pres. Petro of Colombia knows full well that the military will not tolerate any support to Pres. Maduro of Venezuela, especially anything security related that goes against the U.S.. www.newsweek.com/colombia-sho...

What about the Mig-29s from Peru, which are the same variant as Poland's ones?

Yes, many Indians use the wheelchair facilities at U.S. airports. Gaming it is an open secret. AFAIK most are parents of immigrants who can't speak English and get confused at airports: this is an easy way out. Also, a 60+ Indian is usually in bad shape due to many factors and is used to "helps".

I have it on good authority that China will wait to invade Taiwan until the U.S. (and others) have delivered Taiwan all the weapons it requires. This way, the U.S. (and others) will never expect the Chinese to attack.

#ElAñoEnELPAÍS 📰 Marco Rubio: “No hay ningún Gobierno que esté cooperando más con nosotros que el Gobierno de México” “Como vecinos enfrentamos amenazas en común y hemos llegado a un nivel de cooperación histórica", declaró el secretario de Estado

Vivek Ramaswamy is getting primaried by a gent called Casey Putsch "The Car Guy" in Ohio who is anti-legal and -illegal immigration and neoliberal policies. You can't make this up if you tried. lol

China wants Venezuelan oil. So does India and every other Asian, African and Latin American country. The U.S. has the wherewithal to get the oil. Maduro has offered the oil in exchange for retaining power. The problem is nobody trusts Maduro not to renege. Thus, firms don't want to invest right now.

Well, we have the 10 Billion USD package of arms to defend Taiwan. Now, for the minor issues of actually delivering them on time and in required quantities.

IYKYK

Universal High Income!

A hobby one can take up after retiring from public life: making different types of lemonade.

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Just say corruption instead of rent seeking! The invention of fancy terms for basic concepts is out of control in the social sciences.

Castro had the USSR backing him up during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Maduro has no super (China) or great (Russia) power backing save rhetoric. If he can outlast the U.S.' militarized pressure, U.S. credibility for coercive measures in Latin America is shot. A sort of Suez Crisis sans the fighting.

America's compellence strategy against Venezuela isn't working. The longer it goes on, the more avenues Maduro will explore to stay in power. Also, the worse the post-transition situation will be. The potential of the latter will then also be leveraged by Maduro like the "shadow of the future".

Folks who think working from home means more work-life balance are delusional. If you want to succeed, your work eats into your personal life. You work all the time! I am sure there will be a half dozen books on this in a few years. BTW, it's the same scam SV ran with lifestyle campuses, but worse.

The details of Venzuela's anti-ship missiles from Russia, Italy, and Iran. www.twz.com/sea/venezuel...

It’s not a blockade if it’s directed at a limited type of vessel (like sanctioned vessels). It’s a quarantine. Naval words mean things!

There'll be only rhetoric from the international community against US actions in Venezuela. Latin America save Cuba wants Maduro gone due to the refugee crisis (8/28 mil are now refugees). Asian and African states want cheap oil. Russia wants sanctions to maintain high oil prices, but is too weak.

A naval blockade is an act of war.