Behind Closed Doors: The High Stakes Game Of Diplomacy | John Kornblum | Escaped Sapiens Podcast #52

[@alperhyuksel4813]

This was a fantastic interview. Thanks

[@EscapedSapiens]

You are very welcome :).

[@betavsall973]

I was recommeded your channel by the algorithm. Thanks for interview it was very insightful. 🧐

[@EscapedSapiens]

Hi there betavsall973. Glad you enjoyed. Welcome :).

[@markmisselhorn2214]

It would be good if you could do an interview for the alternative perspective from the Russian point of view. Also from the point of view of China and the global South. This is a very American and Eurocentric point of view.

[@EscapedSapiens]

Hi Mark, Absolutely. I would love, in particular, to do an episode from the Chinese point of view (Chechen, Armenian, Iranian, and Belarussian would also be really interesting). Because of the Russian liquidation lists and other atrocities (see eg rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/special-resources/preliminary-lessons-russias-unconventional-operations-during-russo-ukrainian-war-february-2022 ) I'm putting a lot of thought into exactly how best to approach balancing the discussion in a fair manner before choosing an equivalent guest from the Russian side. Cheers.

[@waterkingdavid]

Good work! When we recognize that for the most part all people regardless of ethnicity, nationally or creed pretty much seek the same thing huge apparent problems that arise through positioning fall away. Regarding Ukraine I'm with Chomsky, Jeffrey Sachs, Chris Hedges and many others who find it horrific that the United States would rather stand by and let young (and old of course)Ukrainians die in a hopeless war they CANNOT win than make efforts to negotiate. This is not about a morality contest but in putting yourself in others shoes.

[@EscapedSapiens]

Cheers David. I'm honestly torn on this. If I was Ukrainian I would find it extremely difficult to trust any peace agreement with Russia (given the Budapest Memorandum, and then everything that has happened since 2014 including Bucha and other atrocities, not to mention earlier history like the Holodomor). If I threw away all morality and ethics, and my only metric was to limit the number of Ukrainian dead now and in the future, I might still select the route that Ukraine has taken.

[@alperhyuksel4813]

What a pathetic post, implying Ukraine and Ukrainians have no agency for their destiny, not to mention the post is aging horribly, given the last few weeks' events.

[@waterkingdavid]

@@alperhyuksel4813 the post by EscapedSapiens above shows he's a person of genuine morality. However when we make statistical calculations (number of dead)I think we've already moved into areas of delusion that take us away from the actual experience of warfare and it's effects on our insanity. In it's wake war drives us even more insane than we already are which isn't that sane to start off with. If you're Ukrainian I am deeply interested in what you think since it's become as if all Ukrainians have become sort of morphed into one view according to the western media sources that dominate the narrative. I deeply suspect you aren't though. If you are I deeply apologize. In my opinion Ukrainians have been utterly sold down the river by the authorities. Blessed are the peacemakers. Not the warmakers.