Net Assessment

Latest Episodes:

Global Disorder and Houthi Strikes Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

Melanie, Chris, and Zack debate whether the international order is fraying and if so, what to do about it. They focus in particular on the recent Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, and discuss how the United States should respond. Melanie questions Liz Truss's support of expedited defense exports to China and Chris laments the lack of communication around Lloyd Austin's delegation of authority while Zack makes Chris a job offer he can refuse.

Entrapment, Entanglement, and the Debate about U.S. Alliances Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

Chris, Zack, and Melanie ring in the new year with a discussion on whether or not "The U.S. Needs More Foreign Entanglements," as writer Andreas Kluth argues. What, exactly, is an entangling alliance? How should the United States manage relationships with some of our more tricky partners? Is it politically possible to extricate ourselves from relationships that no longer serve American interests? Besides giving the usual grievances and attaboys, the gang looks ahead in 2024. Chris would like to see more coverage of the positive aspects of AI, Melanie is keeping eyes on the new Argentine President Milei as he sets about trying to reform the economic and political systems, and Zack is pessimistic about the upcoming presidential election. This episode's reading.

The New Washington Consensus Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

On this show, Chris, Melanie, and Zack discuss the so-called "new Washington Consensus" – a reaction to decades of trade liberalization and free market economics that, some warn, has undermined national security and left the United States and others vulnerable to economic coercion. In a recent article, Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman spell out the rationale behind new restrictions on foreign trade and investment and warn that "nothing less than a transformation of the U.S. government" is necessary to ensure that measures taken to protect our security don't also weaken the global economy. Grievances for the impenetrable National Defense Authorization Act, Venezuela's land grab, and Sen. Rick Scott's ploy to designate garlic -- yes, garlic -- as vital to U.S. national security. Attapeople in this holiday season to those who deliver our packages, to Congress for delivering the National Defense Authorization Act, and to Finland for promising to deliver more munitions in 2024.

This episode's reading.

Dysfunction in Washington Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

Net Assessment is back! Chris, Melanie, and Zack return after a hiatus and start by debating a recent article entitled "The Dysfunctional Superpower" by Robert Gates. They agree that Washington is deeply dysfunctional, but disagree about what can be done to overcome political obstacles and the degree to which this dysfunction gives Russia and China an edge. Chris questions additional inflation adjustments for fixed price defense contracts, Melanie criticizes the United Nations' unwillingness to recognize sexual violence in Gaza, and Zack welcomes new colleague Todd Harrison to the American Enterprise Institute.

This episode's reading.

Is Washington Making a Bad Bet on India? Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

Chris, Zack, and Melanie get together to discuss Ashley Tellis's newest article, "America's Bad Bet on India." Tellis argues that if America thinks India will fight on its side in a conflict with China, "Washington's expectations of India are misplaced….New Delhi will never involve itself in any U.S. confrontation with Beijing that does not directly threaten its own security." Should the United States expect the world's largest democracy to come to its aid if there is a conflict with China over Taiwan? What does New Delhi want out of its relationship with Washington? Will India's democratic backsliding affect its relationship with the United States? Chris has a shoutout for Dr. Jennifer Lind for an article well done, Zack has complaints about the overreaction to news of Cuba possibly hosting a Chinese spy base, and Melanie congratulates War on the Rocks friend Will Inboden on his new post.

Episode Reading:

https://warontherocks.com/2023/06/is-washington-making-a-bad-bet-on-india

Is Washington Making a Bad Bet on India? Jun 28, 2023

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Paying the Costs of Competition May 11, 2023

Show notes

Chris, Melanie, and Zack discuss a recent article by Rosella Cappella Zielinski and Samuel Gerstle in the Texas National Security Review. Zielinski and Gerstle explain why the United States should fund the defense budget with higher taxes, not more debt, while conceding that this will be a tough sell for a country trying to maintain the status quo, as opposed to rising powers like China that are trying to upset it. Are they right? Must taxes be raised in the United States to pay for competition with China? If so, can the Biden administration and Congress craft a message that will resonate with the public? Or is there another way to produce the money that will go for long-term defense? Grievances for Jake Sullivan's speech at the Brookings Institute, yet the latest sign of the Biden administration's protectionist turn; NATO's plan to expand to the Indo-Pacific; and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) for blocking military promotions. Shoutouts to the Australian government for their new Defence Strategic Review and a remembrance of Allen Gyngell, the noted Australian security expert, who recently passed away.

Episode Reading:

https://warontherocks.com/2023/05/paying-the-costs-of-competition

Multipolarity: What Is It Good For? Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

Chris, Melanie, and Zack debate whether the world is multipolar and discuss what the United States can do to win support for its preferred policies, particularly in the Global South. They disagree on multipolarity but agree that Washington must pay more attention to non-aligned countries in the months and years ahead. Chris gives a backhanded attaboy to China's ambassador to France, Melanie commends Elon Musk for SpaceX's Starship launch, and Zack criticizes him for Twitter's labeling of state-affiliated media.

Episode Reading:

https://warontherocks.com/2023/04/multipolarity-what-is-it-good-for

Technology, Defense, and American-Chinese Competition Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

Chris, Zack, and Melanie sit down to talk about a new article by Eric Schmidt on whether the United States can win an innovation race with China. Where is the United States ahead and where is it behind in the tech competition? How should the U.S. government work with private enterprise to maximize defense innovation and procurement? Can the United States overcome obstacles, many self-imposed, to accelerate and sharpen innovative enterprises?

Chris congratulates Dr. Elizabeth Samet for a book well done, Zack is unhappy about possible leaks of American intelligence assessments about the Ukraine war, and Melanie congratulates Congress for doing its job.

Episode Reading:

https://warontherocks.com/2023/04/technology-defense-and-the-american-chinese-competition

Better Burden Sharing With Allies Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

Chris, Melanie, and Zack discuss several recent articles focused on alliance burden sharing. Should America want Europe to be dependent on it for Europe's defense? Is the leverage the United States obtains over European allies because of their dependence worth the cost? Is it even possible for Europe to have collective defense? Should the American public accept that U.S citizens will have to defend Europe because European governments won't defend themselves? Will the United States inevitably be drawn into intra-European fights?

Grievances toward the U.S. mission in Syria, the Biden administration's next Summit of Democracies, and Tik Tok. Attas for Gen. Mark Milley, Israeli citizens protesting a judicial reform proposal that lacks wide popular support, and to a group of Ukrainians who have just completed training in Oklahoma on the Patriot air defense system.

Episode Reading:

https://warontherocks.com/2023/03/better-burden-sharing-with-allies

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