“Never, ever agree with Ross Douhat about anything more substantial than the weather, if even that” remains a good rule of thumb for public commentators.
Not the weirdest thing he’s said about Taiwan, but, luckily, no one needs to “destroy” TSMC fabs as the litho machines already have remote kill switches.
(The weirdest thing was something along the lines of Taiwanese need to—at a bare minimum—have the military fervor of Israelis to get boots-on-the-ground US military assistance.)
I’m sure whoever gets this appointment will be horrendous, but Cheese just comes off as a guy with literally no beliefs who will do whatever his boss wants.
I think he actually believes in pivoting to China which means he will raise weak minor objections to WH plans to support an Israeli bombing raid against Iran (no actual change) but critically that’s an implicit push against the quadcopter vc bros
Heer may be referring to the GOP Senators accusing Colby of de-prioritizing Israel slightly
I don't think this is actually a point in his favor, but it is ironic they swallow everything else and strain at lukewarm Israel support.
I think it's a point in his favor, in that I'd personally be much less supportive of the Israeli govt than we are. But it's a minor point compared to the much larger points against Colby.
Sorry, I feel like I forgot to take all of my meds this morning. Is he proposing the *US* destroy/disable TSMC, which would effectively disable a major chunk of the US tech industry?
I think the Cheese Taxman is under the impression that the feeble Taiwanese government would immediately roll over under any pressure whatsoever from anyone
I will not speculate on why he thinks this but I will remark that his whole political party is shot through with gutter racism
Am I off my rocker to assume that Taiwan itself would hold TSMC hostage if China came knocking? Wouldn't damaging/destroying the main thing that China has to gain be a good last line of defense?
Clearly it is absurd for the US to be the one to swoop in and destroy TSMC if it comes down to it but it does seem like a pragmatic choice for Taiwan itself to take this position.
I thought I was going completely mad, because that might be one of the most unhinged proposals I've seen, with an Administration awash in unhinged proposals.
I should say "the Western tech industry", because Australia and Europe ALSO source tech from TSMC.
Comments
Somehow he’s a broken clock that’s never right.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-21/asml-tsmc-can-disable-chip-machines-if-china-invades-taiwan?embedded-checkout=true
If he splits the Repubs and a few Dems defect, it’s even better. Destroying Party unity must be our first goal.
Still: didn’t orchestrate jan6 - which makes him a net win vs eg gabbard or kash patel
I don't think this is actually a point in his favor, but it is ironic they swallow everything else and strain at lukewarm Israel support.
(Nevermind that Taiwan itself would probably sabotage the fabs themselves if they thought they were losing).
I will not speculate on why he thinks this but I will remark that his whole political party is shot through with gutter racism
I should say "the Western tech industry", because Australia and Europe ALSO source tech from TSMC.