Category: Old Howard Union

The Old Howard Union, social and political commentary from Raimondo Graziano.

Old Howard Union

80 – Do Nuclear Weapons Serve A Purpose Today?

Raimondo Graziano

Nearly seven decades after the ‘bomb’ was dropped on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the specter of nuclear war remains, but the publics eye on the conversation has moved quite dramatically. In recent years, the talk of the dangers of nuclear war have come more boldly into the public discourse, but with the threat of the Cold War, perceivably over, the conversation rather than occurring in the proverbial town square occurs quietly in academic circles. As the West is embroiled in a quiet, lukewarm war do these weapons serve a purpose, and what is that?

Show Notes

  1. The World Can Still Be Destroyed in a Flash, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/06/opinion/hiroshima-anniversary-nuclear-weapons.html
Old Howard Union

78 – China’s Economic Recovery Admist Global Tumult: Suspect?

Raimondo Graziano

The Peoples Republic of China has rebounded from the crisis that has swept the world with a speed and breadth unmatched. While the world descends into a financial calamity not seen since the depression and comparable in scale in recent memory to the crash of 2008, the Peoples Republic of China for a 2nd time has managed to avoid financial disaster. With the number of unanswered questions surrounding the orgins of this calamity, it begs the question – what does China have to gain from a wholly lopsided recovery.

Show Notes

  1. China’s Claims to the South China Sea Are Unlawful. Now What? https://nyti.ms/2EmPmBf
  2. China Uses Coronavirus as Cover to Detain Dissidents, Activists Say https://nyti.ms/2XaK3LS
  3. Defying U.N. Ban, Chinese Ships Pay North Korea to Fish in Its Waters https://nyti.ms/3fQ7QIo
  4. The Chinese Decade https://nyti.ms/3gSkI0q
  5. China’s Economy Appears Back on Track, but Challenges Remain https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-economy-appears-back-on-track-but-challenges-remain-11594901270
  6. China Is First Major Economy to Return to Growth Since Coronavirus Pandemic https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-is-first-major-economy-to-return-to-growth-since-coronavirus-pandemic-11594865317
  7. Border Clash Shows Risk of China’s Territorial Push https://www.wsj.com/articles/india-china-border-clash-shows-rising-risk-in-beijings-territorial-push-11592585381
Old Howard Union

77 – The Incomprehensible State of Our Infrastructure

Raimondo Graziano

This past week the United States was hit with a relatively average storm. However the damage it has caused is widespread. When the storm struck the tri-state area – there were major outages across Connecticut, New Jersey and the five boroughs. The sheer strain caused on our infrastructure is incomprehensible. One can only wonder that in the event of a major event – what will happen to our critical infrastructure; from power, to water resources, and roads.

Show Notes

  1. U.S. Flying Through Fog in $16 Billion Broadband Push https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-16-billion-push-to-expand-broadband-america-is-flying-through-a-fog-11590399000
  2. The Urgent Need to Strengthen the Nation’s Resilience https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-urgent-need-to-strengthen-the-nations-resilience-01588963181
  3. Agencies Warn States That Internet Voting Poses Widespread Security Risks https://www.wsj.com/articles/agencies-warn-states-that-internet-voting-poses-widespread-security-risks-11588975848
  4. Trump to Put New Environmental Review Rules Into Force https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-to-put-new-environmental-review-rules-into-force-11594832858
  5. UNITED STATES: Creaky infrastructure needs overhaul https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/news/14iht-15oxan-unitedstates.7111279.html
  6. How to Spend Trillions on ‘Infrastructure’ https://nyti.ms/2FyK2G9
Old Howard Union

76 – Arms Control Aggrements Are Coming to An End

Raimondo Graziano

Much of the Cold War was built upon deterrence and proxy conflicts between the United States and its allies against those aligned with the Soviets. There were great periods of cooperation and terrible periods of conflict. The cornerstone of much of the cooperation was the litany of arms control agreements meant to limit the number of deployed strategic weapons and nuclear arms. Many of these agreements have been outright pulled out of or are near to expiring without a renewal. As the world moves closer to conflict between nations which have not seen great war and strife for nearly 75 years, many of the safeguards put in place in its aftermath are slowly eroding.

Show Notes

  1. A New Superpower Competition Between Beijing and Washington: China’s Nuclear Buildup https://nyti.ms/2NG5eQX
  2. China’s Arms Buildup Threatens the Nuclear Balance https://nyti.ms/3f6A4NH
  3. Trump to Withdraw U.S. From ‘Open Skies’ Treaty https://nyti.ms/3bQyePt
  4. Can 50 Years of Minimizing Nuclear Proliferation Continue? https://nyti.ms/2TFIGSU
  5. As the U.S. and China Wage a New Cold War, They Should Learn From the Last One https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-the-u-s-and-china-wage-a-new-cold-war-they-should-learn-from-the-last-one-11596223180
  6. Russia Tests an Anti-Satellite Weapon, U.S. Officials Say https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-tests-an-anti-satellite-weapon-u-s-officials-say-11595545670
  7. U.S. Moving Military Assets Around Asia to Counter China, Esper Says https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-is-positioning-military-assets-around-asia-to-counter-china-esper-says-11595340363
  8. Trump Administration Weighs Extending New START Nuclear Treaty https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-weighs-extending-new-start-nuclear-treaty-11592952274
  9. U.S. and Russia Hold Arms Talks, With China Absent https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-and-russia-hold-arms-talks-with-china-absent-11592863865
Old Howard Union

75 – A United States of Europe? A Potentially Strong Ally In The Making

Raimondo Graziano

I have said many times throughout the history of this podcast that our strongest and most important ally, are the nations of Europe. We share a collective history, and a shared interest in the flourishing of democracy and the liberalization of nations. This century has been marked by conflict and a shift back towards Great Power Politics. The Western institutions built after the 2nd World War are under attack. We can only preserve and reform the West & its institutions with the aid of a willing, strong and united Europe. They would not be a threat to us. They would be an indispensable ally.

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Show Notes

  1. A Step Towards A United States of Europe – https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2012/06/29/155973136/a-baby-step-toward-a-united-states-of-europe
  2. German Push for United States of Europe I – https://www.politico.eu/article/spds-martin-schulz-wants-united-states-of-europe-by-2025/
  3. German Push for United States of Europe II – https://www.ksl.com/article/46214841/german-fm-united-states-of-europe-wouldnt-negate-nations
  4. Europe Coming Together – https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/is-europe-finally-facing-its-debt/2020/07/26/08738a2e-cdc1-11ea-bc6a-6841b28d9093_story.html
  5. A European Army I – https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-emmanuel-macron-eu-army-to-complement-nato/
  6. A European Army II – https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-fights-macrons-european-army-over-words-not-weapons-nato/