Recent content by amadeus

Depends on what you think of McNamara, and what the job of defense minister really is—is it a military command position or organizing a large bureaucracy? Looking at his bio, the new guy, he studied economics in the 1970’s so I’m not sure how that was taught during the Soviet days. I also have...

The headline sound like he was getting the boot, but reading more of the story makes it sound like he is either being promoted or kicked upstairs depending on whether the position discussed is one of significance.

I would think if you map out support for the war and the resistance Ukrainians are putting up, one could draw the conclusion the Russians are not being welcomed as liberators.

To the end that I could not find more recent figures on public support for the war—I think it would be reasonable to guess that people against a war would also look unfavorably on the government that is waging it.

Ambassadors not in the building at the time. All of those African countries broke and then re-established relations with Israel later on, and not being present is probably better for them than committing to a vote.

In a sense. But what if Russia had its own more powerful neighbor that can feign some historical grievance about land that hasn’t been part of their country for decades? There’s a moral reason they shouldn’t, of course, but there’s a more practical one out there.

I guess the “right” hinges on whether the old balance of power politics that has been since … Westphalia? … is still relevant today. The right of any country to enforce its will on another isn’t exactly a moral one, it’s one of capacity.

Are you willing to state that the good side is being supported because they keep fighting? Is there a way to measure which one of our statements is true? I guess if we went back to past wars, did the side that was short on materiel immediately lose the will to fight? ——edit to get back on the...

I have not seen any evidence that Ukraine is not the main political force pushing against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Feb ‘24: Trust in Zelensky: 64-35 Oct ‘23: 60% say fight, 31% negotiate Those are the most recent figures I could find while on the train here. As far as I know, they are...

I read this proposal as giving Russia more than if Ukraine capitulates.

The proposal is ludicrous because all of the concrete obligations are on Ukraine and the West, and in exchange we are given an empty promise by the Putin government not to directly invade again. If I was Russian I would accept this immediately because it basically grants MFN status to Russia in...

The U.S. has to close its embassy? :lol:

Kwantung Army headquarters in Hsinking, Manchukuo. This style was called the “Imperial Crown” style, placing traditional Japanese style elements on modern building construction. Other examples (including this building) stand today, but I like this …postcard? as it’s easy to see and shows it in...

Yes. Here in Japan, tipping is generally like saying "you suck so bad at your job I have to give you this extra money because you're probably going to need it, dork."

I am doing immigration paperwork. Tomorrow I will go submit it at the immigration office, which is in the most remote part of the city and I think all the civil servants there hate it. I don’t blame them.