What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead Bondi Beach and the Nihilism of Palestinian Strategy
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Dec 19, 2025 
Walter Russell Mead, a historian and foreign-policy commentator, dives deep into pressing geopolitical issues. He discusses the significance of the recent $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan and critiques Trump's economic messaging. The conversation shifts to the troubling implications of the Bondi Beach attack for diaspora Jews and examines the flawed Palestinian strategy of escalating violence. Mead warns that such tactics only strengthen extremist responses, highlighting a cycle of conflict that undermines true compromise and security.
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U.S. Arms Sale Signals Policy Continuity
- The Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan, signaling continuity in U.S. policy despite rhetoric favoring softer China ties.
- Walter Russell Mead argues the sale shows strategic support for Taiwan and that administration rhetoric overstates a policy shift.
Procurement Bottlenecks Shape Deterrence
- Deliveries and procurement matter as much as approvals because U.S. defense industrial capacity has atrophied and creates bottlenecks.
- Mead says $11 billion orders can incentivize firms to retool, easing shortages over time despite global arms race risks.
Incumbency Undermines Rhetorical Fixes
- Trump’s Oval Office address on the economy likely won’t shift public opinion because incumbents are blamed for everyday problems.
- Mead argues Trump’s insurgent political posture makes governing perceptions and narrative-building especially difficult.