Sunday, March 16, 2025

Sarah Paine (another woman historian), and a PennyCooper

I. I really enjoy listening to military historian Sarah Paine of the US Naval War College (in Newport, RI—I had no idea! Did you?)
Here, above, a short clip (2:31 minutes) on the end of the Cold War, "We thought the Soviets were going to win".
Like Russian expert Fiona Hill I posted the other day, she's a dry, wry, informed & insightful speaker.

“One thing to know about warfare? You think the winners win it? No, actually it's when the losers decide they've had enough, that's when a war ends. The Russians got sick of it. And they quit.”

I've watched and was fascinated by her 3-part lecture series hosted by Dwarkesh Patel (an oddly childish interviewer (rather like a mild version of a real-life Philomena Cunk):

"Come for the spy bases, shoestring nukes, and insight about how great power politics impacts every region."

The first is here:
https://youtu.be/LbkO84MsmyM

I was just wondering if we could call this a Second Cold War.
Well, the Naval College does--here in the description of this recent talk (2/25/25), which I haven't yet listened to:

"While the United States and its partners and allies are attempting to maintain a maritime global order to foster trade, China and Russia are great continental powers increasingly fixated on dominating territory.
These differences have precipitated a Second Cold War."

starts at minute 7]

Seems I'm not the only one enjoying Ms Paine. Comments include,
"Always a good day when a new Sarah Paine lecture gets posted! "

LOL--and this take-off on Lord of the Rings:
"Saruman gave me the option of aiding him willingly, but I have elected the way of PAINE"

Original quote from the evil wizard Saruman to the good wizard Gandalf:
“I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly, but you have elected the way of pain.” – JRR Tolkien

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II. Going through my blog removing dates and names, etc., I've removed a few posts entirely (mostly because they were boring and irrelevant)– – but I actually want to re-post this one, which I found in my drafts-- from a few Halloweens ago (at HouseMates'):
my Penny Cooper costume cobbled together from the thrift store.