In this weekend edition, Victor Davis Hanson talks with cohost Sami Winc about what prolongs wars that are expected to be short. They discuss the Ukraine, World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and the Second Punic War.
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Your comments regarding “Have Gun, Will Travel” were interesting. I was a fan of westerns from an early age. I went from Gene Autry et. al. to the long list (in the 50’s & 60’s) of western heroes.
A colleague of yours who taught the classics at Yale pointed out that Palladian enjoyed gourmet foods, fine wines & opera when in SFO, then travelled to save the peasants from rich & powerful [pick one] ranchers, governors, sheriffs and taught us all that as long as we had people like him we would be rescued!
Usually VDH is very trenchant, but his analysis of Ukraine seems way off. Why would Putin think he could take Kiev with 30k Russian troops against >100k Ukrainians? Does he really think Putin underestimated Z, or did he realize that Z had no choice but to fight, otherwise the Azov, or the West, would get rid of him.
why didnt the u.s.level hanoi
I think we tried. Google Operation halfback or fullback? Where 15-B52S were shot down over Hanoi on Christmas of 72, I think.
Because the U.S.S.R. and CCP were nuclear powers. He specifically referred to the “Cold War Rules” which, to a large extent, revolved around avoiding nuclear war.
Outstanding! RE being outspoken about views: That’s why I’m in this to support Victor and get a full dose of hm that’s untainted by “opinionists” on TV. My wife and I got tired of seeing him interrupted at Fox News…and, as they got more woke-minded, we got rid of cable and do mostly conservative news feeds and podcasts…and old-fashioned reading.
Ah Victor,
Pleaser stop embarrassing yourself over the Ukraine/Russian war and stick with what you know. I am so disappointed in you.
When Russia started the war they had Ukraine at the table in a week but the US and Britain, who are running the war, stopped the Clown puppet from surrendering.
Russia will win the war in August, move his troops to the Dnipro, clear Donbass of the Ukrainian forces and their Nazi friends and take Odessa. Poland will annex the West or Ukraine and the sanctions will screw Europe over.
Still a big fan of our US analysis but you are off base with Ukraine,
You opine with such confidence, I’m interested to know your bona fides and what has led you to be so infatuated with your analytics. Also, let us all know where we can hear your lucid and erudite comments on radio, podcasts, or any other media.
“TOO-CHET” (:. It is war of attrition and Russia has mor to attrite.
Thank you Victor, Recommend to Subscribers: The constitutional legacy of the war in Vietnam Parts 1-4, Sep 19, 2017 by Lyle Denniston @ constitutioncenter.org “Among the more startling of the many disclosures was that the government’s real reason for carrying on the war was not to assure the independence of an ally, South Vietnam, as the government had said over and over again, but the far more ambitious geopolitical aim – likely to take years and years to achieve — of keeping China from expanding its influence in that part of Asia.” Experience 1965-93’ U.S. Army; DoD Civilian 95’ to present. V/R, GDN
You obviously think a lot of yourself. See where we are in 30 days, mate.
Observation, the U.S. has been defeated psychologically and morally after engaging wars that were expected to be short, Cheers Mate.
Thank you Victor, Recommend to Subscribers: The constitutional legacy of the war in Vietnam Parts 1-4, Sep 19, 2017 by Lyle Denniston @ constitutioncenter.org “Among the more startling of the many disclosures was that the government’s real reason for carrying on the war was not to assure the independence of an ally, South Vietnam, as the government had said over and over again, but the far more ambitious geopolitical aim – likely to take years and years to achieve — of keeping China from expanding its influence in that part of Asia.” – Part 4. Personal military background 1965-93’ U.S. Army; DoD Civilian 95’ to present. V/R, GDN
The Vietnamese had an historical conflict with China based on Chinese encroachments into Vietnam.
The Vietnam War was a continuation of the Colonial policies of France post WWII.
In 1954 the Vietmin had a major victory against France and The U S. took over the war for France.
The Domino theory was a boon for the U S. arms industries and given lip service by the Dulles Republicans who were phobic about the ascendancy of world communism.
My understanding of Ho Chi Minh’s preference for assistance, was the U.S. based on his friendly war contacts with OSS agents. These preferences were ignored by the power structure in America. The Catholic Church was a major source of power. In Vietnam and minority Catholic Vietnamese ruled the SOUTH TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE MAJORITY BUDDHISTS.
The U.S. paid a huge price for our involvement in S.E. Asia.
Almost 60,,000 dead Americans, Hundreds of thousands wounded Americans and the. waste of $billions by the U.S. Govt. to the benefit of the Military Industral complex. Many believe JFK’s assasintion was partly linked to his plans to pull back in Vietnam.
And we’ve incompetently followed these aggressive policies in supporting a drug involved President in Panama, who we had to remove. IRAQ and Afganistan were expanded from required military actions to nation building.
Vietnam was economically a miniature effort compared to our adventures in Iraq and Afganistan. All 3 involvements were boondoggles for the arms industry, the professional milit
Thank you Bob, exactly, great summary if I may say so Sir. TIME Magazine Cover: Indochina’s Ho Chi Minh Nov 22, 1954 was delivered to our home. Recommend: Bernard Fall’s Street Without Joy, David Halberstam’s The Making of a Quagmire, Neil Sheehan’s A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and The Vietnam Archive: The Pentagon Papers: The Secret History of the Vietnam War. Also Fred Logevall’s two Vietnam books. There are many more. VB, G
Sometimes I wonder if H.R. McMaster has a Zelenskyy sock puppet that he torments Victor with when they’re all alone up in that Hoover Tower. I know Victor is really unwell and tired from recording these podcasts back to back. I’ll try to take that into account in analyzing what he said. So, what I’m getting is that Ukraine is effed, eastern Europe is likely effed, and we’re in way too much trouble at home to do anything. As for fixing any of the above, there are no good options. Victor seems to be leaning toward “too bad poor Melians, we’ve got our own problems”. I’m confused that he attacks supporters of the Ukraine War as having no concrete plan to win when he does not offer any plan himself. Can anyone pleese Eeyor who doesn’t join him on the ash heap and throw glass bottles at the cheery people who still think we’re not effed no matter what we do? 😉
@24:50 Sorry, Professor, but Sami has it correct, “Moltke” is pronounced “molt-keh”, not “molt-key”. Just calling balls and strikes.
You need a sock puppet to help you make your calls. Maybe something like Triumph the Comic Insult Dog. How about Figment the Fact-Checking Grackle?