Friedman on the “Two Chinas” and How Putin Saves Face

George Friedman says there are two Chinas: one based in Shanghai and another that is still effectively a third-world country. He paints a grim picture of China, with security lockdowns, home inspections, and paralysis among its leaders. He says Xi Jinping may have already lost control, and the risk of civil war is real.
George and I also unpack the military stalemate in Ukraine and the increasingly complex posturing in the Middle East.
You will also hear why China won’t invade Taiwan, which Middle East country is the best model for success, and how the US could help end the war in Ukraine.
George Friedman is a renowned geopolitical strategist, best-selling author, and the founder of Geopolitical Futures. You can get special access to his work at Geopolitical Futures by following the link below.
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Time stamps:
00:00 - Introduction
03:08 - Russia’s threat to NATO
07:50 - China’s economic demise
09:21 - America’s price for helping China
10:05 - Political unrest threatens civil war in China
13:30 - Why China won’t invade Taiwan
14:47 - The two Chinas
18:38 - American and European resilience
20:55 - The multisided war in the Middle East
32:02 - What the US got right in Ukraine

[@MauldinEconomicsYouTube]

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[@user-pt6xb4eu8l]

HEY OLDMAN STANDING IN FRONT OF A LIBRARY BACKDROP TALKING SH-..T ABOUT RUSSIAN LOSING THE WAR IN UKRAINE!!!... YOU'RE FULL OF KAKA!!!...TIME TO RETIRE YOU'RE OLD SCHOOL...EVEN YOUR CRAP ABOUT CHINA IS OFF!!!..

[@user-pt6xb4eu8l]

Man oh man...WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO PLEASE WITH THIS GARBAGE!!???...WHAT JAPAN DID TO THE U.S. AT THA START OF WW2,CHINA CAN DO BETTER...YOUR RING OF BLOCKADE WILL BE OBLITERATED WITHIN 10HRS,AND THEN OR BY THEN TAIWAN WILL SUE FOR PEACE!!!...END OF STORY!!!

[@user-pt6xb4eu8l]

THINK YOUR MISSILE DEFENCESS CAN STOP ALL ONE HUNDRED HYPERSONIC NUCLEAR TIPPED MISSILES???!!!

[@TommyAlpha-gg3ig]

Rubbish and propaganda what's wrong with USA inferiority complex ?

[@charlesmosteller849]

Done.

[@tuyolento3295]

When i attend a lecture by George Friedman on geopolitics i always hear sniggles in the background and see people rolling their eyes abd shaking their heads...i often winder why?

[@sanjazuljevic8046]

😂

[@jrpark05]

No you don't, LOL.

[@hardto994]

What he said about China is correct. Stagflation is official and it took the Japanese 25 years to pull out of that.

[@holliday.]

China's CCP has lost the mandate of heaven

[@amalchakrabarti2357]

@@holliday. America withdraw it self from Afghanistan just after receiving 2000 casualties in 20 years. Ccp is not answerable to its people . Democratic countries are answerable

[@tubegersh]

George, in 1973 they DID know of the forecoming onslaught. They chose not to mobilise in order not to be "seen as the aggressor"

[@Egalitare]

So much to react to, but I’m new to the channel and I don’t have a feel for the culture yet. Dipping my toe in the water, I don’t think most Westerners (not just North Americans) and probably the majority of “beat reporters” have digested the logistics of tens of thousands of soldiers and their arms, equipment, etc crossing the Taiwan Straits. It’s not just the many hours it would take to make such a crossing. It’s also the finite number of staging areas for such an operation to depart from😳

[@MauldinEconomicsYouTube]

Welcome to the channel! Thanks for taking the time to give a thoughtful post. -Ed

[@davidleker9482]

and to land safely

[@mikaelpetersen3331]

and to - across the strait - continuously resupply weapons, ammunition, heavy equipment, food etc, week after week, month after month, to the troops that actually manage to land on the island until they fight through and overcome one heavily fortified mountain defense after another all along the west coast. And all the while keeping these water-based supply lines secure from anti ship missiles, submarines, etc. It is a monumental logistical nightmare in time of war.

[@loofatar5620]

Good to see so many comments telling the gentleman strategist that he has lost the plot.

[@pedtrog6443]

Getting under peoples skin so he must be saying something right.

[@jerrymann646]

Stanford is done. George Friedman is laughable.

[@jerrymann646]

STATFOR

[@michaeltrillium]

Everyone calling Friedman deluded is focused on the Ukraine “stalemate” even though he spent more time on China and Middle East - so it’s hard to believe they’re anything other than Russian propaganda. Also: it IS a stalemate even while Ukraine has barely started hitting inside incompetent Russia, who needed a decade to win in Patriot-less Chechnya. The only way out for Russia is realizing this was a horribly stupid idea and join the philosophy that build the West. Maybe even help remind the West what that is, since the West seems to be trying hard to forget it.

[@gyurmethlodroe1774]

Yes for 50 cent wumao ​@@jerrymann646

[@vancityr6485]

The amount of people screaming "propaganda", while probably watching their state TV in the other room, really makes you think how screwed the world really is..

[@forbearancemp5283]

LOTS of us watched the Tucker interview. Freidman's facts don't match up.

[@CrazyYurie]

@@forbearancemp5283 The tucker interview literally is state propaganda.

[@carylhalfwassen8555]

Tucker admitted he didn’t know much about Russian or Soviet history or culture. How does that add to his “insights” re Putin and the Kremlin? Even Putin is not happy with the post “interview” blowback. Very disappointed in Tucker interview but understand how delicate the situation was for the production team. Would an earlier death of Navalny just before the scheduled “interview” have changed the direction or tenor of the questions (how many were there?) from Tucker?

[@forbearancemp5283]

@@carylhalfwassen8555 And What If Navalny died of "blood related" issues? Where's the autopsy ...

[@nicolasolton]

Triple propaganda S..simonyan, solovyov, skabeyeva.

[@johndewey6358]

Very good discussion, I wish it was longer and went deeper focusing more on Economics and potential military outcomes (short-term and longer-term)...

[@Tyler-wl8kq]

Friedman knows the truth and the truth shall set you free, people must learn

[@Toughcrwd_14]

Indeed

[@kevoreilly6557]

His truth is war

[@robertatkins9419]

For me the most important take away from this, in respect of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, is that the entire discussion was based on a lie - that the conflict is at a stalemate. It isn't at a stalemate, and Friedman knows this perfectly well.

[@rajlowkie6616]

It is so obvious from Putin's STREAMS & CRY about the collapse of the USSR & now Russia on HIS⌚watch.

[@kentjensen4504]

Those people always lie.

[@pikachus5m166]

Just reverse the scenario given by the msm. Ukraine and its backers are getting more than they ever bargained for.

[@koffim.kouakou1745]

Totally agree. Me. Friefman and his host are reinforcing a lie. Ukrainians are being decimated and slaughtered. What stalemate are they talking about!? Russia has no intention of fully invading Ukraine. Her baseline was stopping the war crininals in the Dombass. Me. Friedman is again wrong on China!! My goodness!! How do we guess such terrible analysis of world events!?

[@TommyBeaux]

Exactly! Ukraine has been destroyed, and with it Europe, NATO and U.S. hegemony.

[@greggcal4583]

Mr. Friedman is always a thoughtful interview. I enjoy his historical view of things and think he is generally right. Ukraine and China along with the ME are so interesting right now with lots of moving parts.

[@gmw3083]

He says 'at no time has Russia been victorious.' Except they took Mariupol and Bakhmut. They are in the process of taking Avdievka. These are just the major battlegrounds. Russia has regained the territory lost in Kharkov and kherson. Ukraine is falling back everywhere and have to mug unsuspecting conscripts.

[@greggcal4583]

@@gmw3083 The fact that Putin has not had a victory march through Kiev by this point shows that Russia is being bled. Ukraine is tiny in comparison, so the stalemate/quagmire scenario rears its head. Ukraine is mugging conscripts and Russia is emptying prisons. The war is and always was the Russians to lose.

[@stayfree870]

This video is not fact based and is disinformation trying to fool people.

[@michaeldelisieux5252]

What Mr Friedman said was that Ukraine is hanging in there; that this war is between the Russian Federation and the U.S. and that the U.S. had no losses of American lives ( only two agents if I recall well what was said). Russia has the second most powerful armed forces in the world and has not been able, until now, to decisively defeat Ukraine ( what would characterize a “stalemate”). That Ukraine, a peripheral, weak country resisting for two years the Russian might, is, already for Russia, a defeat.

[@gmw3083]

@@michaeldelisieux5252 2nd attempt at posting. Very little of what this guy says is true. I can't provide details or the post will disappear. Look elsewhere for facts...

[@pbierre]

One thing to dangle in front of Putin is NATO creating a Temporary Emergency Accession (TEA) status given to Ukraine which disallows permanent NATO membership, but affords temporary accession while under attack -- reverting to neutrality in peacetime. Wouldn't that give Russia something it claims it wants (keeping Ukraine from becming a permanent NATO member)? Also, a long-term lease (conditional on non-aggression) for Sevastopol would save face, as well as reviving the Minsk Agreement. NATO allies must begin to think creatively and strategically, instead of risk-averse / indecisive.

[@pauldillon3179]

Thanks

[@philbyd]

Fascinating, thanks for posting this for posting this for us to understand

[@gus892]

China wants Foreign investment so it can steal technology , recruit spies and interfere and control those businesses .

[@bearowen5480]

American [national] debt will "be taken care of"? Really? How? We're at 124% Federal debt to GDP ratio right now and growing daily. Congress can't or won't address that looming disaster. I don't see that "getting taken care of" without a national economic calamity. The "fat lady died" 😊in 1929, and the economic suffering was enormous. It took Pearl Harbor and a catastrophic world war for America's economy to recover.

[@johnkelly_Ebiz]

Depends who your friends are "Let me issue and control a nation's money and I care not who writes the laws", Mayer Amschel Roxxxxhild

[@jeanraymond9114]

A national value added tax as every major country has would take care of the debt deficit .

[@bearowen5480]

@@jeanraymond9114 Increased taxes, VAT or otherwise is not the answer, reduced spending and a smaller government are!

[@economiccrisis9267]

​@@bearowen5480 you do know that taxes have to be raised at some point right ? Y'all are afraid to support the tough choices

[@paulmurphy8549]

Countries go to war when they can't or don't want ti pay the bills

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

One of the most ignored facts in all of economic history is that from the US Civil War through WWI, the world's armies ran on cotton: gun cotton. Until the Haber-Frisch process made cheap fixed nitrogen possible, every artillery shell in the world needed nine pounds of cotton. That is what fueled American export strength and the rise of America as an economic power. Gun-cotton.

[@geofflewis8599]

trinitrocellulose..

[@NothingIsKnown00]

Interest level 9/10. Well done.

[@richardvsessions1302]

In explosive: Nitrocellulosic explosives (guncotton) in 1845 by dipping cotton in a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids and then removing the acids by washing with water, he hoped to obtain a propellant for military weapons.

[@hiddenharmonicssystemforwi4484]

And cotton was really cheap to produce ! Hint hint

[@washuneluvhada7616]

​@@hiddenharmonicssystemforwi4484that's why they regime changed the Hawaiian queen 🤡

[@thomassecurename3152]

Love the interview. Thank you.

[@user-sy4hk8zn4v]

Friedman absolutely does not understand the essence of the conflict.

[@Cornel1001]

The did not alow the complete colapse of CCCP in 1991. Now they are desoriented ! They try to pet an adders !

[@maphezdlin]

Explain? Is Ukraine not a stalemate? Does Israel not need an eventual settlement with Palestine?

[@marekrudnicki4645]

@@maphezdlin Listen to what colonel Douglas Macgregor says about the war in Ukraine.

[@maphezdlin]

@@marekrudnicki4645, please give me some of his claims. Why am I supposed to search for what you are implying he has said? Do other military leaders disagree with him?

[@tudonegrony6417]

Excuse my! He G.F. perfectly understands the conflict in Ukraine, but lies shamelessly, as do the other politicians in the US government, including the vassals governments from EU + UK, Australia & Japonia … He does nothing but fulfill a request (mission) that was given to him…

[@reversedragon3]

"when you have an exporting power it is an accident waiting to happen ..." Yeah, and who did that? The point of repeatedly demanding more "freedom" in China has often been for foreign businesses to try to make money on exporting goods out of China. If we had all supported Mao and tried to prevent the creation of Deng Xiaoping thought and New Democracy, China could have turned inward and focused on its own needs, but we all decided in other countries that we didn't want that, and pressured China to make our goods for us and force all its people to listen to what other countries want or else. Who is really to blame for this?

[@dm0065]

China is in no position to look inward for its own needs. The have to import their fertilizer and other agricultural stuff so they can avoid starving. They need to import oil too, so they can have industry. And if they need to import stuff, they need to secure shipping lanes, especially through the Red Sea. But they cant, they dont have a deep water Navy or the expertise/industry to build one. So they need the US to do it for them, which we did for decades. All of this made it absolutely crucial for China to look for ways to integrate into the world economy, cause they couldnt expect to receive what they needed without sending things out. So this is their mess, its not anybody else's fault.

[@philj5518]

Friedman is a lousy chess player. Peace

[@jakebarnes28]

Says invisible guy on Internet comment section

[@robhead22]

Winderful. Thank you!

[@themtoniraniremaxbroker2447]

Many thanks for doing this, Riveting!!

[@johnsamu]

"American debt will be taken care of". He also still believes Santa Claus is a real person?😉

[@Babalouie59]

When you owe someone, and they go out of business, your debt can be cleared.

[@dimitrye5148]

War make magic happen

[@washuneluvhada7616]

😂😂😂😂 Trillons

[@jakebarnes28]

When you owe the bank a million dollars, the bank owns you. When you owe the bank a billion dollars, you own the bank. What's China going to do? Sell off their Treasury notes? They'll be worth pennies on the dollar, bankrupting them. Their political system is brittle.

[@richdobbs6595]

The traditional way to counter balance unpaid foreign debt is gun boat diplomacy, where you take over the ports of a debtor nation, and collect the import duties and pay them to the bankers. Given the relative vulnerability of gun boats to missiles and drones, combined with that the debt is in fiat currency makes this no longer an option. Fiat currency debts can always be hyperinflated away into nothingness, and likely will be. The fundamental debt faced by countries is support for their aged. This will be paid for by some combination of bankrupcy (IE, letting old folks die due to lack of medical care and food), and confiscation (taking of assets of the well off). Given that America has comparatively more assets of the well off, the American debt will be paid for more easily than the Chinese. There is even the possibility (albeit is slight) that rather than directly confiscating assets in America they could pay off this debt by removing privileges of the well of - such as zoning laws, education subsidies, job licensing provision, etc.

[@stayfree870]

He's comparing China's debt vs our 34 trillions debt?

[@greggcal4583]

Their debt is of a magnitude larger and they are poor. We seem to be the cleanest shirt in the laundry.

[@stayfree870]

When the truth is not on your side, empty words are all you have, can't cite collaborating sources.

[@stayfree870]

Al Jazeera By Hanna Duggal Published On 31 May 2023 How does US debt rank compared with the rest of the world? The United States has the world’s highest national debt with $30.1 trillion owed to creditors as of the first quarter of 2023. Washington’s debt now stands at $31.4 trillion, raising further concerns about US government spending and borrowing costs. To put that in context, the US owes as much money as the next four countries with the highest debt including China ($14 trillion), Japan ($10.2 trillion), France ($3.1 trillion) and Italy ($2.9 trillion).

[@2paulcoyle]

China has to borrow in Dollar loans, to pay back in Dollar loans. This is the same problem that near death imperial Manchu(?) China had a the end of the 1800's. Chinese currency the Yuan is not acceptable out side of China. No one will loan Dollars or Euros for Chinese bonds. There are not enough Dollars circulating in China to meet all the demands. Outside of China is a flood of Dollars looking to invest. In short China is in a real pickle. A jamb. Between a rock and hard place.

[@taghiabiri3489]

Top 👍

[@stevenjohnston7809]

Insightful. Thanks for the video

[@willsteel1631]

Friedman, it’s not quite right. Thank you for the video.

[@eggtan4051]

Mr.Friedman,is living in another World,US is a Sinking Titanic,yet many are still dancing & singing..

[@timdarville4827]

I think you've drunk the kool-aid mate. The one that makes a person very prone to confirmation bias.

[@maphezdlin]

So the US is worse off now then the 60s, 30s, Civil War? Maybe you don't understand the US. Our internal disagreements have always been public for everyone to see.

[@SenorJuan2023]

USA in far better shape than Russia, Europe, and China.

[@AR-tl5cd]

Nice argument, Little Pink. Get out while you still can.

[@paulwally9007]

@@AR-tl5cd The entire comments section is infested with them. Their presence here speaks volumes.

[@TomSimba]

They hired the wrong guy to lie to the world. He's just not convincing.

[@timothybybee4535]

Brilliant analysis of what's really happening...thank you...keep up the great journalism and sharing truth...

[@lowtech_1]

This is just reshaping the narrative.

[@stayfree870]

Same like damage control.

[@richardmeyeroff7397]

I don't think that he understands the leaps and bounds that the CCP Navy has taken. It is not the equal of the USN but it is getting close.

[@Samuel-ts5dh]

I wonder why George Friedman is wrong here in his analysis. I hope he will analyze more rather than just confined himself to purported western media.

[@user-lw7il2zx8u]

I never read more wishful thinking then as is said here.

[@titorodriguez4628]

Are you gettinga paycheck from him???....🙄

[@alexyeephengtan9386]

Well this speaker lives in a different planet!😂

[@gyurmethlodroe1774]

Yes...how is weather on Mars?

[@cooldudecs]

or maybe you do... He has studied Russia all his life

[@AR-tl5cd]

The expression is, “lives on a different planet.” Your planet is either planet Little Pink or Ruski Mir and both are lost causes.

[@Babalouie59]

Smug ignorance is not helpful to this discussion.

[@roxylius7550]

@@cooldudecsdude has produced inaccurate lie all his life. There corrected you

[@herbertpoller5634]

Very wise words, food for the mind

[@gregwang8628]

The future is in people’s hands!

[@danbuckles2745]

The Russian economy is failing as the Ruble is clasping and there is 15% inflation. The people are angry and ready for change and the US needs to fund the Ukrainians and keep the pressure on.

[@mattyghost3409]

It will take 2 more yrs

[@titorodriguez4628]

Sure...🙄

[@matthewchee]

Lol, seen Carlson tucker shopping in Russia?? No inflation like u talking about

[@dixonpinfold2582]

The rouble isn't falling. It's lower than before the war and in my view its outlook is quite negative, but it is currently steady. It's where it was 8 months ago. On inflation you are either badly mistaken or unbelievably well informed. The official rate is 7.4%. But Russian government statistics in wartime are unlikely to be accurate, so no one knows. Maybe you're thinking of the central bank base interest rate (16%).

[@danbuckles2745]

The Rouble is falling with all major currencies which makes everything more expensive along with the increase in war time spending making it a war time economy sucking the life out of the rest of the economy. More sanctions are going to make it worse. If the economy fails so does Putin and we may see a rerun of the Berlin Wall. Republicans have to pass the bill for more ammunition.

[@davidsaluk9726]

This man on another planet.

[@AR-tl5cd]

Yeah, thankfully he’s not on your Ruski Mir planet!

[@roxylius7550]

@@AR-tl5cddude is tripping high

[@grahamt5924]

China has a massive problem. Their one child policy and dropping fertility rate is going to cause significant internal problems with more people elderly than young. I think they will become a very insignificant country on the world stage in decades to come, as their internal problems overwhelm them.

[@washuneluvhada7616]

Definitely, even the neocons have a better grasp on realit😢

[@jakebarnes28]

Troll better Igor

[@user-mh3kp7we7i]

excellent

[@KDean22]

NO EQUAL TO GEORGE

[@glenngrowe7105]

Informative and perceptive comments on Russia/Ukraine, China, and the Middle East. Thanks.

[@Decoy0527]

I would call it wishful thinking. This guy doesn't live in the real world.

[@umbrellastudio7481]

enlighten me why it's informative? about the China part, it's just two Western guys never been to China, don't understand a single Chinese word, repeating Western media's talking points.

[@dannydadog1987]

@umbrellastudio7481 For most westerners it would be, because 80-90% (especially in US) are abysmally ignorant/disinformed about totalitarian states and world in general compared to mos

[@charleswomack2166]

​@@umbrellastudio7481wumao?

[@nadiawheeler4772]

He gives no evidence for his claims

[@jimmcfarland9318]

How did Israeli health officials miss the dangers caused by the shots? Why did they minimize the tragic effects? Same answer will apply to the Intel failure. Fear. Ezekiel 33 explains it, but I will summarize: When the shepherd sees the wolf, the lion and the bear approach, he must warn the other watchers; if he hides his face, through fear, the flock is in danger. The blood is on the head of that person. As a Christian, I see this in the Southern Baptist Convention, which went along with the evil, conspiring against wisdom, misusing even Scripture to justify the government and the mandates. Cowardice is unseemly for shepherds, and false prophets told their people that G-D would want the people to submit. I have clean hands, but I am a nobody. Who listens?

[@ntlineman]

When you say that Israel is an economic superpower you have to point out because of the economic support of the USA.

[@carylhalfwassen8555]

Israel has citizens who are hard working, entrepreneurial, capitalistic. That is why Israel attracts investments and talent. Without those characteristics the land that is labeled Israel on a map would be inhabited by less talented and business oriented tribal populations.

[@boloalain4082]

‘Stalemate is a defeat for Russia’…😂!!! Ok, so if the Nazi would have kept the north part of France in 1945 then it would have been a defeat for them? Pdt Zelinsky said Ukraine must re conquer ALL the territoires lost to Russia . You guys have a strange sense of humour

[@fotisstamoulos4792]

They are just mouthpieces of the western propaganda getting paid for misleading the people

[@truthseeker6116]

A stalemate would be a catastrophe for Russia. Its GDP is just too small to supply, equip a large occupation force and rebuild the areas it illegally occupies. The sanctions will never end and eventually the Russian sovereign wealth fund will run out, also the oil and gas infrastructure will collapse without Western expertise and equipment. Ukraine meanwhile has the support and economic backing of most of the world. Russia is heading for total collapse because Putin does not care about the Russian people and will bankrupt the country to try to achieve his goals.

[@lupus7194]

I find all this anti China stuff hard to believe. China seems to be in the process of massive growth in its car manufacturing industry, the single biggest industry in the world. Same thing in trucks, buses, agricultural machinery and construction machinery. Meanwhile, Aliexpress, Shein and Temu have laid waste to the retail industry. These are all the actions of a superpower going to the next level not a country in distress. George sounds to me like he's talking the thinktank talk - highly negative about both Russia and China as needed to earn government consulting fees.

[@Charles-yq8vv]

Domestic consumer sentiment in China is in the shitter, and that's in a country that doesn't spend much even in great times. Those vehicles need export markets, which dovetails with what he said.

[@beauvanderputt4236]

The cars and trucks are rubbish they have to sell cheap, nobody except the Chinese wants them

[@jakebarnes28]

It only sounds like that to you. You're a salesman for China and Russia. You love the echo. China's rise is due to western investment.

[@MrMurica]

"Temu has laid waste to retail" Lol, LMAO even

[@tofu666]

China's housing market is in a deep crisis which makes up a far too big chunk of their GDP; foreign investment is on an all time low; youth unemployment is alarmingly high since the pandemic; the closure of massive factories ruin the local economy and former buzzing places are now barren and empy; domestic consumption is low and the economy is too dependent on exports alone; a lot of the EVs you mentioned are parked in European ports without being sold; ...

[@peterweicker77]

Small point of order. After 1973 the consensus was that Israel could be beaten, but the cost would be catastrophic, so don't try it. Then in 2006 Hezbollah, outgunned and outnumbered, with Israeli armor carpeting southern Lebanon under Israeli jets operating a few minutes from their bases, slugged it out from fixed positions and fought the army to a standstill. Without incurring a prohibitive cost. So, that leaves nukes, but anyone who can read without moving their lips knows that no nuclear monopoly can be maintained forever. Nor can a state of siege. If you're a small country you can't make yourself a superpower through magical thinking. Israel will have to face facts and make compromises they don't want to sooner or later.

[@user-ox7dp5md5n]

By their policies and actions, the US has shown themselves to be cowards everywhere

[@mikelauzon9139]

I'm sorry to see that friedman is no longer in touch with military reality

[@nataliebrown2658]

Looks like he is not in touch even with his own reality.

[@koffim.kouakou1745]

😂Indeed, Mr. Friedman is out of touch on so many pointers beyond military matters. His worldview on China and Russia is way outdated, and coloured by so many ideological blindspots. It's laughable.

[@maphezdlin]

@@koffim.kouakou1745, China and Russia aren't in major trouble? Why doesn't either nation leave their currencies floating on the open markets?

[@maphezdlin]

What did he get wrong militarily?

[@vicmarx-sl5xz]

​@@maphezdlinWhat did he get right?

[@winstonpeckson8019]

But Chinese debt is mainly in the local currency..they don’t have a foreign currency debt problem

[@stayfree870]

Al Jazeera By Hanna Duggal Published On 31 May 2023 How does US debt rank compared with the rest of the world? The United States has the world’s highest national debt with $30.1 trillion owed to creditors as of the first quarter of 2023. Washington’s debt now stands at $31.4 ($33 now) trillion, raising further concerns about US government spending and borrowing costs. To put that in context, the US owes as much money as the next four countries with the highest debt including China ($14 trillion), Japan ($10.2 trillion), France ($3.1 trillion) and Italy ($2.9 trillion).

[@maphezdlin]

@@stayfree870, why are you showing numbers and NOT percent of GDP? Japan 255% Greece 168% Singapore 168% Italy 144% United States* 123% France 110% Portugal 108% Spain 107% Canada* 106% Belgium 106%

[@maphezdlin]

So why won't they let their currency float on the open market? You keep it in house when money is fleeing.

[@stayfree870]

@maphezdlin Because GDP is different for each country since costs of living are different and exchange rates are different, as if you didn't already know that. I gave the name of my source Al Jazeera, which is neither pro China or pro USA. You didn't disclose your source, and you didn't even include China in your list. Japan is so screwed. Braden screwed all of us up. Trump wouldn't have allowed this to happen on his watch.

[@stayfree870]

From AXIOS. Jan 22, 2024 - Economy U.S. debt hits record high as rich economies pile on IOUs headshot By Deena Zaidi By the numbers: In the last century, the U.S. federal debt has risen from an inflation-adjusted $403 billion in 1923 to $33.17 trillion in 2023. The U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio surpassed 100% in 2013 and currently stands at 123%, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Zoom in: The U.S. has plenty of company. Virtually every other major government across the world has aggressively tapped into global debt markets. Japan has the highest debt-to-GDP ratio at 255%. Its national debt has floated above 100% of its GDP for more than two decades. China's national debt is above 80 percent of its GDP, according to IMF data.

[@barryballsit4944]

2194 Days Of War on the book shelf in the background, I have that book

[@PortlandGuy247]

The war is lost, and was a horrible disaster for the Ukraine.

[@user-qd8yg1fp7i]

This guy talking bout america, right...

[@josephlee4337]

Sir, with all due respect, you don't know what is going on with the war between Russia and Ukraine! I am shocked. By the way, the books behind you, do you read any of them or they are there just for show?

[@cyrilbujor9909]

Mr ....with due respect....you don't know what you are talking....because Ukraine is finished.....and for russia to take a big portion of their land.....

[@seandonoghue8197]

One thing it isnt, is a stalemate

[@ansonstiles]

Excellent material

[@peterchen2643]

Ukraine is lost.

[@leroimorvan2845]

100% !

[@pedtrog6443]

Some Russian troll saying it's lost doesn't make it so... Ukraine is only lost when they surrender and that is not going to be any time soon.

[@pedtrog6443]

A very interesting interview. Thank you.

[@kryts27]

The problem now is that China appears to now export it's deflation. This will effect the economy of the West as a whole; not as much obviously as China, but it will have an effect.

[@Johnny-qu9op]

Great prospective on all issues.

[@saeedmustapha1334]

Two blind men on this one.

[@AR-tl5cd]

Pray do tell why they’re so misguided? We’d love to hear your expert opinion.

[@jron20r51]

This is a different spin.....I always like to see where some of these folks get their money aka disclosures to know who they are speaking for..

[@benangel3268]

I ask the same thing about mainstream media

[@user-oc6dh2yp2w]

​​@@benangel3268 I ask the same question about fringe media (the opposite of "mainstream")

[@benangel3268]

@user-oc6dh2yp2w It is always good to keep in mind for example which political bias. Where they gain their money from may be or may not be what influences their content. Are they wishing to change the system in their own country?, are they concerned about their own countries excessive domination in the world? Have they become "fringe" because they would be even less free to present an alternative viewpoint working for the mainstream media? One question I always ask is whether mainstream media is being influenced by the global capitalists who also lobby and influence governments. Which side of a war they support will always be the side that potentiatially benefits western and Israeli global capitalist interests.

[@michaelnitake2534]

Brilliant and illuminating

[@dawnoceanside7300]

I hope you are correct George 🤞

[@tonytan6547]

This guy lives in the well , and thinks that is "the world" He is so intoxicated with his own thoughts that he stops to think n reason indepently.

[@stayfree870]

This video is disinformation.

[@maphezdlin]

Example? What did he get wrong? Or are you going to be as vague as possible?

[@sveng3192]

​​@@maphezdlin What he got wrong is that Ukraine is already destroyed. There is no stalemate. Russia is the biggest country in the wirld. Russia is now also the strongest country in the world.

[@maphezdlin]

@@sveng3192, then why hasn't the frontline moved in 8 months? Russia is only the biggest Country in land mass. It is the 8th biggest economy in the world, just behind France. It is the 9th most populace Country in the world just behind Bangladesh. It spends $87 billion per year on military, the US spends $877 billion per year. If it's the strongest Country why can't it defeat Ukraine? Why is it not allowing it's currency to float?

[@maphezdlin]

@@sveng3192 GDP Russia $1.7 trillion New York $2.1 trillion Texas $2.4 trillion California $3.6 trillion USA $27.6 trillion

[@geoff9858]

😂😂😂 Thank you for redefining the term "STALEMATE" george

[@maphezdlin]

The frontline hasn't moved in 8 months, that's NOT a stalemate?

[@maphezdlin]

@@AlejandroRodriguez-wp8tj, how much land did Russia take in 2023? In 2022 Russia went from 7% of the land to 27% of the land. Before 2022 was over Ukraine took back 9% of the land. Leaving Russia with 18% of the land, that number hasn't changed one percentage point for all of 2023. Not taking or losing 1% of land in a year is a stalemate.

[@geofflepper3207]

​@@AlejandroRodriguez-wp8tj So Russian forces have advanced how far in this one spot in a very long front line in two years? 10 km? And only so long as Ukraine doesn't receive more American aid? Sounds like a stalemate to me. How many thousand years is Putin willing to take to conquer Ukraine? Given Russia's demographic decline while western countries such as Britain, Canada and the United States quickly gain population that's not a battle of industrial might that Russia should want to engage in.

[@maphezdlin]

@@AlejandroRodriguez-wp8tj, Russian population: 1990 148 million 2022 142 million You don't see the problem? USA population: 1990 250 million 2023 340 million See how it works?

[@maphezdlin]

@@AlejandroRodriguez-wp8tj, that Russia is dying. Their birthrate is too low and the war will make it lower. They have no immigration, their top people are actually emigrating. All the west has to do is wait it out.

[@philipgr100]

China is in deep trouble financially. They, like Japan, are suffering from deflation. Their manufacturing costs are higher than the manufactured goods selling price. The Chinese people are holding onto their cash and are not spending. Their real estate sector has collapsed. One of their biggest real estate companies, Evergrande, has been declared bankrupt by a Hong Kong court in response to an action brought by foreign investors. Their Belt and Road program is in dire straits as there are a lot of unfinished projects and the countries in which these projects are have not been paying their debts they incurred with China. China is facing a dilemma 1) do they finish these projects at their own expense and hope to receive payment in the future, or 2) do they write them off. Another problem China has is that foreign investors are pulling their investments out of China. Being Russia's best buddy is also not helping them.

[@gregpekar7328]

US military is floundering. Recruiting is not sufficient to fill the ranks. We have so overspent that we cannot afford a major war. Yes, we are moving (not quickly enough) to field air, sea, and land combat drones, but those wont be fielded for years.

[@alanaadams7440]

This guy the opposite of what Col McGregor says McGregor says Ukraine has lost

[@nickflynn666]

I never much rated George Friedman but on this occasion he impressed me. The sheer quantity of butt hurt Kremlin bots in the comments is hilarious, its amazing how much effort they put trying to sway the comment section with their tedious talking points 'ItS NOt a StalEMATE" "AmERicA DyInG" "RusSIA PoWERFULL" yeah right, save it for Ticktok guys.

[@elmohead]

It's not a stalemate atm. Ukraine is retreating. Whatever land Russia took, Ukraine cannot retake.

[@psychohist]

@@elmohead Ukraine retook all of Kharkiv oblast. It's a bit of a seesaw, but still fundamentally a stalemate, and that's with only halfhearted support from the US.

[@johnschuh8616]

He seems to imply that the U.S.A. planned to suck Russia into this war,or something like this! The conflict certainly has really been a kick in the belly to the Germans and yb extension to the EU But how does the U S profit? 😮

[@colinbates8498]

Some very good understanding of overall world politics & the behavior of traders/finance versus military options & ambitions

[@Cornel1001]

Sunt in urma ! Si inca rau de tot !

[@davidcritchley3509]

If it was a stalemate.which it isn't. Russia is advancing all rhe time. Now taking the biggest Ukrainian fortress in Donbas after taking Backmut. You are way behind the curve!!

[@voicubogdan84]

Great guest.

[@GOBEF3]

Old George shot his arrows to an imagined wall way back in the last century. And has been drawing circles around them ever since 😂

[@bimbo-yw6ny]

the US is borrowing massively money to fund the war in ukraine, comparing the time of pearl harbor, japan didn't own US debt, . china name stand, for the opposite of a civil war

[@user-xb8kz2my7d]

is this is an expert god bless america

[@mjmf1430]

Isn’t Russia winning over Ukraine having taking 1/4 of it?

[@GDB11]

Russia just occupied empty fields and no major city. And they are stuck with that for the last 2 years. So no, they are not winning

[@shadeofblue84]

@@GDB11of course Ukraine is winning, not only they cant take back crimea after 10 years, they cant even take back Donetsk city with troops at 15 km from the city.

[@mostevil1082]

They lost most of what they took. They're currently inching forwards again but not fast enough that you can realistically say winning. Initiative maybe but it's a long way from either side winning.

[@JoeStrange709]

Do people really eat up this slop you are serving? Sheesh...

[@paulrobinson4439]

😅I have been going to China since the late 80s. There were always two Chinas the developing South East with It's capital in Shanghai and the underdeveloped rest. China is still a developing country

[@bearowen5480]

The unseen and seldom talked about deterrent to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is American and Allied submarine forces, not antiship missiles in Guam. The US has the potent ability of sinking most if not all Chinese amphibious shipping trying to cross the Taiwan Strait without the US launching any antishipping air or missile strikes at all. Amphibious operations are notoriously difficult and hazardous to successfully execute even in waters uncontested by enemy submarine and mining defenses. A seaborne invasion of Taiwan by the PLA Navy would be so risky as to be foolhardy. Unless China had rock solid intelligence that the United States would not come to Taiwan's defense, it won't happen. Biden has said publicly on three occasions that the US would come to Taiwan's aid in the event of an attack by China. Xi sees Biden as weak and feckless, but would he take such a significant risk? I don't think so.

[@winstonpeckson8019]

How can the poorer part of China be a threat to the rich coastal part of China?

[@DrDude-fp6mr]

mao was that threat and he won

[@hughmungus2760]

@@DrDude-fp6mr People don't realise that Xi supports the countryside. He's allowing the wealthy coastal elites suffer by pricking the housing bubble and going after billionaires. So what? Xi is going to coup himself?

[@davidgeiszler4764]

CCP

[@garrybuckley1503]

Wow the propaganda in this is off the chart

[@user-os4fd4yl8z]

The guest is a space cadet.

[@tomk8729]

China certainly has major difficulties but I'm not clear who would be fighting whom in a civil war.

[@carylhalfwassen8555]

He said that he does not know where civil war sides will emerge.

[@silversurfergw]

Putting a puppet regime in Kiev is a defeat for Russia. 😂😂

[@alistermacdonald6888]

Stalemate is a game with rules coming to a repetitive set of moves. War is not like that. Alternatives exist during a DEADLOCK on the frontlines. Russia hits at civilians. Ukraine disables logistics. The latter is a winning alternative like shaping the battlefield. No stalemate in sight.

[@johnm7267]

Ukraine killed 14,000 ethnic Russians between 2014 and 2022. Since the beginning of the war 10,000 civilians have been killed by both sides including 560 children. In 7 months Israel has killed 30,000 civilians including 12,000 children. Get your facts right

[@marioceva7163]

Avdiika is now Russia.

[@user-oc6dh2yp2w]

This tiny town is absolutely useless. 16.000 Russian soldiers dead for nothing.

[@Maxfr8]

Considering that all Russia has to do is maintain what they occupy, then it is a victory for said country.

[@benetaue]

Best analysis send to APAC

[@rudyinthesky4967]

What planet is this guy from?

[@user-uy4cu7zm3m]

George is from Mars!

[@wrongthinker843]

Ah, yes. Assert the other person's goals and mock them for not achieving those. Call every disagreement with those goals a lie. The state of western "intellectuals".

[@maphezdlin]

You are saying Russia has achieved it's goals? How is this mocking?

[@wrongthinker843]

@@maphezdlin You struggle with basic english, huh?

[@maphezdlin]

@@wrongthinker843, so are you ripping on the fact that I put an apostrophe on "its" or you're telling me that Russia has achieved its goals? Or you're saying Russia hasn't achieved its goals, but no one has the right to point that out?

[@wrongthinker843]

@@maphezdlin I'm ripping on the fact that a dead rat appears to have higher IQ.

[@maphezdlin]

@@wrongthinker843, oh I see insults. You haven't answered any questions. See if you can come up with more insults though. “When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.” Anonymous Ad hominem definition: "Typically this term refers to a rhetorical strategy where the speaker attacks the character, motive, or some other attribute of the person making an argument rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself. This avoids genuine debate by creating a diversion to some irrelevant but often highly charged issue." Argumentum Ad Hominem: Fallacious argument that attacks not an opponent's beliefs but his motives or character. Ad hominem arguments can take many forms, from basic name-calling to more complex rhetoric. For example, an ad hominem argument can involve simply insulting a person instead of properly replying to a point that they raised, or it can involve questioning their motives in response to their criticism of the current state of things.

[@ziggyc3004]

Friedman is a legend.

[@peredavi]

In his own mind?

[@joewilder]

George says the US debt will be taken care of. How is that going to happen?

[@cfarinho]

This guy is a criminal.

[@nicolasolton]

What crimes he commit?

[@jamegumb7298]

​@@nicolasolton Treason to the USSR and Russia.

[@cfarinho]

@nicolasolton fear, hate and war mongering.

[@sameagletheregal8526]

He's a smart man, and you're a pacifist puzzy.

[@AR-tl5cd]

The question is, who do you troll 😈 for, 🇨🇳 or 🇷🇺?

[@user-lt6xz4du2h]

Interesting. I disagree on Hamas being the first to stand up and fight. The Egyptions and Syrians had somewhere to run. Hamas does not. It goes back to Putin's trapped rat experience. Ditto with Ukraine. Putin is in a Hitler moment. He can't afford to lose but if he does win, he will be compelled to double down and will be in the same situation again, not affording to lose.

[@yuglesstube]

Is this a stalemate?

[@kenambo]

Wrong!

[@hypocritehater1673]

Lots of books don't go hand in hand with his brain😂

[@davidreed8055]

US is finding itself more and more on the wrong side in these wars, going back to Vietnam

[@Rammbock]

Disclaimer: The information value of this clip is zero.