I see, we have reached the "China isn't helping the VC" phase of the Iran War.
Vasabjit Banerjee
@vasabjit.bsky.social
Comparative civil-military relations, defense manufacturing, political violence, electoral politics, and foreign policy. Regional foci on South Asia and Latin America, but also the "global south."
American mercs in the Congo. A traditional news item from Cold War 1 returns in Cold War 2. "The eternal Thompson gunner, still wandering through the night Now it's ten years later, but he still keeps up the fight."
Rightwing-led Chile may join the fray over the Falklands Islands over trade links. It may not be in Argentina's favor. The U.S. decision to support Argentina's claims on the island now threatens NATO ally UK, a friendly Chilean govt., and regional peace. www.latintimes.com/chilean-inte...
Chilean Intelligence Warns of "Critical Event" With Argentina Over Danstar Ship Departure
Chilean intelligence warns the Danstar's voyage to the Falklands could spark a rupture with Argentina, testing two binding 19th- and 20th-century treaties.
latintimes.com
There is a way to pitch a product for your firm to signal to the client that you don't believe in what you're saying, the product's awful, but they should continue to trust you, and your future firm will have a far better product. Surprised to see it play out in national politics, is all.
Jon Hamm's knowing smile and gesture
ALT: Jon Hamm's knowing smile and gesture
static.klipy.com
In terms of my experiences at elite universities, I have visited the campuses of Cornell and Arizona State.
I don't think BRICS will be affected by Flavio Bolsonaro's election. Thread. BRICS is not some alternative non-U.S./Euro international organization. It's a loose collection of nations whose economies in some (most?) cases are more tied to the U.S./EU than other BRICS members. 1/3
Hi Americanists, Corruption and nepotism doesn't matter in ethnic politics. In fact, they are lauded as grabbing state assets and power for the in-group. Regards, The CP Guy
Basically, the family firm is coming apart at the edges due to bad business decisions, firing of experienced professional staff, hiring of incompetent bootlickers, and outright theft and skimming.
All the stuff in Project 2025 has been circulating in DC discourse for years nay decades, especially in 2nd and 3rd tier think tanks. Just that GOP politicians, specifically legislators but sometimes governors, kept them out of policy because they wanted to get reelected.
Is there an economic history book that connects the financial Panic of 1907 to the Wall Street Crash of 1929?
The political influence of tech oligarch problem is a bipartisan one with bipartisan origins. This is a fact not my opinion.
lol Hispanohablantes when our faculty lounges and activists tried to create and impose a word in their language on them.
Juan Camaney Harass
ALT: Juan Camaney Harass
static.klipy.com
Laura Martínez 🥑@miblogestublog.bsky.social · 7d agoI also made this one LMAO
What state-level Dem and GOP candidates are telling the national parties in this cycle is: buzz off! It reflects the politics of large, federal countries. I see this happening in India, too. Essentially, ideology can't paper over that national and local concerns are increasingly not overlapping.
As impossible as this sounds today, there will be a general amnesty proposal for all undocumented/illegal immigrants. This new cleavage will lead to a break up of the Trump coalition and defection from the GOP akin to the Know Nothings and slavery. Will it actually lead to amnesty? I don't know.
It's amazing that this kinda stuff was quite common with West Germany too. Double agents were used by the Soviets and allegedly us, too. Look up Heinze Felfe. Also, the Guillaume Affair that was an epic intel failure.
Vasabjit Banerjee@vasabjit.bsky.social · last wk.Former spy chief of Germany August Hanning caught spying for a foreign power. At its heart CW2 remains quite similar to CW1.
Absolutely insane story about the arrest of August Hanning, former head of German intelligence agency BND Added gimmick is that investigators only found out because Hanning is accused of involvement in another absolutely insane story of a German millionaire trying to abduct her own children
Marcel Dirsus@marceldirsus.com · last wk.The accusations are pretty crazy. According to media reports, the former spy chief paid his former chief of staff (who stayed at the BND until this year) to receive classified information after he left the agency. That's already a big problem, but it gets worse. www.tagesschau.de/investigativ...
Former spy chief of Germany August Hanning caught spying for a foreign power. At its heart CW2 remains quite similar to CW1.
Putin has close ties to both Lula and Bolsonaro. China is Brazil's largest trading partner. Flashy ties may be reduced, but trade will continue because cuts will cause economic pain. The Brazilian army is divided, which means Bolsonaro Jr. can't count on them to quash protests without a coup risk.
I literally want to pen a piece that lists the salient issues in every Latin American presidential election in the last 3 years. There will be outliers and all. The main character energy of Americans on the right and left is essentially wrong. It's an age old problem, though.
Vasabjit Banerjee@vasabjit.bsky.social · last wk.Despite who says what about USAID supporting leftist parties in Latin America, the electoral victories of conservative presidents have much more to do with economic stagnation and law and order crises, ethnic politics, etc.. Domestic conditions and actors are key.
Despite who says what about USAID supporting leftist parties in Latin America, the electoral victories of conservative presidents have much more to do with economic stagnation and law and order crises, ethnic politics, etc.. Domestic conditions and actors are key.
Taiwan's local elections are not about China, Lai, the US, Trump, or war. Whatever the outcome, do not read the results as a national referendum. But, these races do matter for Taiwan's future. Here's why: My latest with @brianhioe.bsky.social for The Diplomat: thediplomat.com/2026/10/taiw...
Taiwan’s Local Elections Are Not About China, President Lai, or the United States
Candidates across Taiwan are campaigning on local issues that vary by city – not topics like cross-strait relations. What can we learn from these elections?
thediplomat.com
American Anti-Indian racism is much more similar to our version of anti-Semitism than racism against Blacks and Hispanics. It's declining or aspiring elites' fears about getting "layered" in corporate speak. Combined with a nostalgia about a could've been, never was. I call them Uncle Ricos.
Uncle Rico's State Champion Claim
ALT: Uncle Rico's State Champion Claim
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I beseech y'all not to apply American politics explanations to Brazilian and Latin American politics and make the U.S. the protagonist or antagonist in these countries' politics. They have domestic actors and factors, i.e., agency. Not to mention ties with other foreign powers like Russia and China.
If Bolsonaro Jr. is elected, it will affect the Essequibo dispute between Guyana and Venezuela. Venezuela recently reiterated its claims. Bolsonaro is pro-Guyana; Lula didn’t want to depose Maduro, but deployed forces at their shared border to deter Venezuela. orinocotribune.com/venezuela-re...
Venezuela Reaffirms Sovereign Rights Over Essequibo, Makes Calls to Guyana for Direct Dialogue
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reaffirms before the international community its historic, firm, and irrevocable rejection of the null and void, fraudulent Paris Arbitration Award of 1899.
orinocotribune.com
If Bolsonaro Jr. wins, Brazil will be part of a Latin American wave of rightwing presidents. He won't be an outlier. The left wing's economic policies aren't (sufficiently) popular and people want the hard mano dura law and order. The army's reentry into politics in the region affects this too.
Musk knows how to run a para-statal industry. Tesla was (is?) subsidized. Starlink is too and has government contracts. As with all para-statals, there's crony capitalism, corruption, and nepotism. The profits are private, the losses are public. That is about it.
I am tired of saying this, but most current analysis of Latin American politics is not valid if it doesn't account for civil-military relations. Not even Colombia, Argentina, and Guyana. There could be outliers like the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, but they are few.
Vasabjit Banerjee@vasabjit.bsky.social · last wk.I chatted with perhaps the foremost Brazil specialist. He said, there was little enthusiasm for Lula and Lula wasn't even trying. I know the army is now pretty openly into politics. A few flag officers tried to assassinate Lula. They are not united, though. Bolsonaro's return has many causes.