Radio War Nerd #330 — World Of Wars: Ethiopia, Ukraine, Yemen, School Board Elections
Recorded: May 20, 2022
The War Nerd & Ames catch up on the latest news in the wretched world of wars.
First: SUV Death Stars & garbage plates...
Then at 13:48 — World of Wars, starting with the latest out of Ethiopia/Tigray...Ukraine & Russia's ugly way of war gaining some ugly battlefield success...Yemen gets a ceasefire and air corridor at long last... the school board civil wars...
Maps
Total time: 1:43:36
Comments (37)
John said that it's impressive that the Ukrainians are staying in place in the face of the Russian advance and an example of their bravery, around the 59 minute mark. But is it an example of the disarray of their leadership and simply throwing bodies into the battle with no plans? I keep seeing reports of how so many of the Ukrainians have run out of ammo, they're older men with no military training, and aren't getting much direction or are being ordered to stay in place. Can't be both mutinous conscripts and brave freedom fighters at the same time - or are they? I guess at the end of the day, it doesn't matter much, it's a damn meat grinder and the elites oligarchs in NATO, Russia, and Ukraine are calling the tune.
if you think school boards are bad you should look at the nextdoor app
"nothing has created nation states more than wars in the last few centuries" WRONG! So very very very wrong.
Correct the record, Professor! I'm all ears, honestly, what's your argument?
@ a clash of purple don't underestimate the power of lies https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2022/05/the-power-of-lies/
Can the war nerds advise why they disagree with Scott Ritter’s assessment about the “feint” to Kiev?
I have trouble listening to Annibale when he talks because of the heavy accent, frequent pauses, strange pronunciations. I know you guys like having him on, I just wish he was a little better at speaking.
lmao clown
Someone needs to tell the War Nerds about coal rolling
I am in Rochester too. Can we get do a meet up? Also Nick Tahoes is good, Dogtown is my go to.
Getting the sense we can set up a mini Western NY RWN meetup over (or versus) garbage plates.
I think I may be able to help with some basics on the econ side of things - definitely not a PhD in the field (but that may actually be a point in my favor lol). I think there may be a few basic frameworks that could help - but mostly I think you guys already know how econ impacts war efforts
Mark's point at 1:10:06 about elites wanting to help a buffoon say the right words reminds me of one of the Pythons talking about how people wanted to see them do all their old skits and recognizing that their audience was mouthing the lines along with them. The audience loved when cleese, pailin, or the others would forget a line and would burst out laughing - things really take a hideous turn when you think about that also being true in the George W scenario and maybe all the elites know what the "lines" are and are laughing it up when he gets his part mixed up
Reading "late Victorian holocausts" makes me seriously question how "artificial" famines are different from "natural" famines.
We're all accusing each other of huffing the copium. In fact, we are all hostages in a theater into which weaponized copium is being pumped.
Couldn't agree more Mr. Realname
I just don’t know what Russia’s alternatives were in this. We also don’t know the scope to which Ukraine was being primed to attack.
They could have done nothing... They were making progress improving relations with the Europeans, which was creating tension within NATO as the Germans complained about America's psychotic Russia hatred. The anti-Russian Maidon revolution had already been rejected by Ukrainian voters, which is how Zelenskyy got elected in the first place. The way things were going, the political momentum favored Russia. And if Ukraine invaded Russia (or attacked the breakaway republics) with NATO backing, then so much the better. Then the Ukrainians and the U.S. are the badguys, and Putin is free to counterattack. The U.S. press would still vilify him, but it's much less likely that the E.U. would go along with their sanctions. He would still get his war, but he'd be operating from a much stronger position and _his_ troops would be the ones fired up about defending their homeland. No, no matter how you look at it, this whole thing was a huge blunder. That's why I thought Putin would never actually do it.
The economist Michael Hudson has an interesting perspective on the economic consequences of the sanctions against Russia. I remember the War Nerd lamenting his lack of understanding of finance in one of the Ben Arris episodes, and Hudson's "Finance as Warfare" is a good and short introduction.
Kurdish Battle Painting???! 🤯post pictures!!!
what battle, when, by whom, i have so many questions and i need to see this painting
That George W. Bush clip was so nauseating... Invading Ukraine is a good step, but the Russians still have a looong way to go before they catch up to the American regime in sheer depravity.
Have y'all tried getting Kofman on? That'd be great.
Putin seems to be permanently at deaths door from the news(?) that comes my way. Do you have anything on that? Speaking of the Pacific NW and Olympia, I recalled your episode with Matthew Randazzo V which was really good and was wondering if a catchup might be possible to see how the native american communities were doing in their legal battles. A catchup with Anibale would be good too. His take on the whole Ukraine thing would be good to have. Something with Philip Matyzak would be nice to listen to, too.
Does anyone know what happens if Putin dies or retires or whatever? Is there somebody who'll pick up the war and carry on with his policies? Would things proceed about the same as they are now? Or would there be disruption within the regime? Is Putin holding back even more hardcore nationalists than himself in his administration who would act even more aggressively (somehow) in his absence? It'd be useful to know something about the anatomy of the current Russian regime.
Check out Gideon Rachmann from Financial Times on Ukraine Nationalists and the Azov Batallion. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3VQSKHtDXXZH63Gk37B77D?si=NQ5tw_CBRgmfY5TIDyGnPw&utm_source=copy-link The "Book of Facts" story alone is worth it.
I wonder why Mr Rachman chose a professor of Sociology to explain and understand Ukrainian Fascism rather than a historian.
New RWN? Today is a good day :)
I was walking as a pedestrian with my younger sister and got struck by a car going about 40 mph. Absolutely terrifying experience. We survived, her with more damage than me. I had jumped as it was about to strike and slid cleanly over the hood with a few bruises, she didn't and her head cracked the windshield. I was lucky it was a little car, not one of those monsters which will suck you under. Needless to say those giant, heavy, pedestrian killers stress me out. On an unrelated note, copium. lmao I enjoy deploying this word not even gonna lie. Cope is a one-word roast of self-delusion. Admittedly often deployed by the hopelessly deluded
Garbage Plate featured on City Confidential Rochester at 3 minutes in: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2s2gj8
Thank God, my car is an ordinary white colored sedan.
Hey Mark, if you're doing a Rochester meetup, let me know! I'm down in Columbia County, but I would absolutely drive up to say hello. I haven't had a plate in twenty years, but I'd drive by Nick Tahoe's, too!
That's quite a ways, but thanks I'll let you know. I'm itchin' for another plate.
Welcome to the pnw, come see the Olympic peninsula if you want to see how beautiful this place is
Haven't listened yet but y'all nailed that episode title
Woohoo! PNW meetup imminent?!?
Would love a Seattle meetup!