Video: Pelosi Goes to Taiwan, Zawahiri Is Dead

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On this week’s Dispatch Live, Steve is joined by David and Klon Kitchen. They discuss Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan and the operation that killed al-Qaeda co-founder and leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. 

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  1. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    When Klon says that China will force us to clarify strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan, does that mean by attacking Taiwan and starting a war? Or something short of that?

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    Ben Connelly

    500lbs… hmm. I thought a Hellfire was 99lbs but maybe that’s one variant or maybe I’m wrong.

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  3. Andy M

    Is there a way to get an RSS feed for podcast addict? Simplefeed only seems to offer apple, google, and oversomething links.

    edit: I see the listed options in the instructions now. Mention of RSS had my hopes up; the available options appear to be non-standards-based. Sad to see cross compatibility dying.

    Personally, I wish these were posted to a subscriber only substack feed. Is there a technical/workflow reason for simplecast?

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    Kevin Johnson

    This was fantastic. The combination of reporting and analysis of specific issues and broader context just isn’t available almost anywhere else. Klon’s knowledge of the nuts and bolts was really interesting. The look ahead, noting rightly that to govern is to choose, even with life and death threats, was among the deepest points Americans need to try to understand. That kind of broad wisdom can emerge from discussion of ANY topic when you gather balanced, knowledgeable, and non-politically-motivated people with varied and relevant experience. Great job!

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  5. R. James

    "The goal here remember is not to defeat China in a war, it's to deter a war in the first place." This has strategic miscalculation written all over it. What happens if Deterrence fails and China invades Taiwan anyway? Do we have the capability or the national will to stop them? Can the US strategic position as leader in the international order survive the US walking away from its commitment to Taiwan? Will anyone believe the US if it says it never really committed to defend Taiwan? I'm afraid the answer to all those questions is No. So yes David, the goal is to be prepared to fight and defeat China, because if Deterrence fails, the US will have to fight. Afterall Roosevelt did not say speak loudly and carry a twig, because that is a recipe for disaster.

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    Wilhelm

    Fantastically informative, folks! Thank you David and Klon. Good questions from Steve.

    About Steve's camera ... do you need more light in the Bat Cave? Is the lense dirty? The Penthouse centerfold look is, well, troubling.

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    1. Avatar photo
      Bill Dyer (aka Beldar)

      That was exactly my thought — that Mr. Hayes is sufficiently distinguished as to need no Vaseline on the camera lens.

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      Aylene Wright

      Actually, to me, Steve actually seemed to be trying on an Obi-Wan costume, not a Batman costume. The darkly clad white-haired sage look.

      In related news, stores are already selling Halloween themed products around where I live. In early August! The pumpkin spice lattes aren't even out yet!

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      Pastorfbt

      I was going to guess too much sun (or Spanish wine).😁

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    MarqueG68

    Disappointed that I couldn't join live on this one. It's a news subject area that I'm most interested in personally. Completely agreed with the praise for Pelosi's actions vis Taiwan and the CCP, and I've never had a positive word to say about the woman otherwise.

    Regarding the long-forgotten GWOT, I'd like to see/hear/read some discussion, however speculative, about the role of Russia in fueling terrorist groups. I also haven't seen much reporting on how Russia has been kicking the French out of francophone Africa in recent years, sowing instability, gangsterism, mass murder wherever they go. Take Mali as one recent example.

    Seems to me that in terms of geostrategery, we wind up shooting ourselves in the collective foot by having defense and nat sec figures go on about how we're aiming to confront China but we're not too worried about Russia since it's a washed-up, second-rate, has-been rival. Our public statements are like they're almost designed to invite challenge to our assumptions.

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  8. Pohl

    Good discussion, especially Klon going full wonk discussing the killing of Zawahiri.

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      Pastorfbt

      I also love his quoting Jim Carroll (the missionary I assume).

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