Comments by "richie" (@richiesd1) on "The Spectator" channel.

This is pretty much what John Mearsheimer has been saying since 2008:
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@lembergnative7731 what do you think America did in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, etc…..
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Mearsheimer has another theory and that is the security dilemma. You may say that what you do is defensive only; but it’s what the other side believes that matters. Was Cuba ever an existential threat to the USA? I don’t think so. Russia is entitled to its own Monroe doctrine.
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@NoumenonAndPhenomenon it takes 2 parties to tango. Putin sent a list of demands to the United States, else he would invade. Kennedy also sent a list of demands to the Soviet Union regarding Cuba; and the Soviets backed down. If you’re not willing to back down to prevent a war, then you are the cause of it.
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@jorgeandrade783 , what exactly is your theory of how the world works? democratic peace theory? Offensive Realism is Mearsheimer’s theory and it explains the world pretty well. Also after Russia invaded, in March, Zelinsky was going to make a deal before NATO told him not to. Therefore America did lead Ukraine down the primrose path.
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@jorgeandrade783 you forget the Security Dilemma. One side may claim that it’s only being defensive. But the other side cannot read mind, and will only assume that the opponent is being offensive. That’s how the world works. Why do you think the US wants to prevent other countries from acquiring weapons? Mearsheimer explained that the world is “anarchic” and you cannot read other states’ intentions.
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@jorgeandrade783 , and as far as America is concerned, America is surrounded by large oceans. No country poses an existential threat to the United States. So why does the United States go to war all over the world? Because might is right.
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@MatthewEGolden , the theory of offensive realism explains relations between states. Hamas is not a state. Hamas exists within Greater Israel so Hamas is just an Independence group.
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@NoumenonAndPhenomenon , if you want to say Russia is guilty then fine. But what will you do about it? As John Mearsheimer explained, there is no higher authority than nation states in IR. So might makes right.
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@NoumenonAndPhenomenon , it sounds like you believe in liberal hegemony. John Mearsheimer’s demonstrated that liberal hegemony no longer works — it was only possible during the uni-polar moment. The reason the United States did not want to leave Europe is because it was afraid that Germany would become the leader of a new regional hegemon, with the Americans out. That’s why Germany had to cede a lot of territory to Poland and forgo the right of return of millions of ethnic Germans. Also, if Russia were to be integrated into Europe, then Russia would have to be primus inter pares, with the Americans out. It’s all a realist balance of power, with a facade of liberal talk. You guys can claim all you want that Russia had no reason to invade Ukraine. But that ignores the facts on the ground that Russia did invade Ukraine. There was a reason for that…. It seems that you guys are mind readers, and know exactly why Putin does what he does. If you guys were so good, then you should have found a way to prevent the war. Mearsheimer said that states are black boxes — you cannot know their true intentions. That’s why you have to look at the structure of the system. The outcome now is that Europe is a vassal of the USA.
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He does not. Realism is between states and Hamas is not a state. Hamas is inside Greater Israel and therefore a guerrilla fighting for independence or at least equal rights within Greater Israel. You can listen to his full answer in other interviews.
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@NoumenonAndPhenomenon , all nations have ambitions based on their wealth, abilities and history. They will not submit to the biggest and most baddest that is the USA. You need to give them space while trying to contain them and prevent them from dominating their regions. Don’t poke the bear in the eye, which is exact what the USA did to Russia. I personally think that the Americans wanted Russia to invade, so that Russia could be once and for all knocked off the ranks of the great powers. A mistaken strategy that did not take into account the limits of power. Mearsheimer, in his writings, says that there are limits to American power.
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@gintasvilkelis2544 , if you can read Putin's mind so well, then you put should have found a way to prevent the war.
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@NoumenonAndPhenomenon , EuroMaidan overthrew a democratically elected leader. Yanukovich should have been allowed to finish his mandate. It’s indisputable that western secret services had a hand in the overthrow and were paying many of the protesters. As John Mearsheimer’s mother used to say, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Don’t act so surprised when other people do the same thing that you have done. In fact, you should anticipate that they will do the same.
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@NoumenonAndPhenomenon , well, i read Mearsheimer’s books and believe that his theories explain very well how the world works. The conventional “liberal” wisdom has committed many mistakes. We shall see because the future will tell. At this point, I think Russia will end up taking Odesa and make Ukraine a landlocked country.
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@alexkat8297 models/theories can be wrong. But if a theory can explain the world about 70% of the time, then you have a winner. John Mearsheimer himself said that his theory is sometimes wrong. He sure was right about Russia and Ukraine.
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Those guys are delusional. Just listen to John Mearsheimer.
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@JackSchitt-p9t , correct, Mearsheimer said the nation is more important than the individual
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@genelarson6849 , John Mearsheimer has the answer to that. It’s the security dilemma. States are black boxes — you cannot know their true intentions. The West said that Ukraine will be part of NATO, even right before Russia invaded.
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