Andy Semotiuk, immigration attorney & Senior Advisor to CEED

Mark welcomes Andy Semotiuk, immigration attorney & Senior Advisor to CEED. Andy shares his experience as an immigration attorney. We also have a spirited discussion about Russia’s unjust invasion of Ukraine.
Some of Andy’s books:
Solomea: Star of Opera’s Golden Age: https://www.amazon.ca/Solomea-Star-Operas-Golden-Age/dp/B0CGTRX2XB
A Promise Kept: A Tribute to a Mother’s Love: https://www.amazon.ca/Promise-Kept-Tribute-Mothers-Love/dp/1483997669

Transcript:

(0:01) Welcome, welcome, welcome everyone. (0:04) We are live to another episode of Knocked Conscious. (0:07) I have a new gentleman, Andy Semichuk.(0:11) Andy, it’s a very interesting story. (0:14) I used to have two podcasts. (0:16) I had a serious podcast, which is a Knocked Conscious, (0:18) and this funny one called Beer Googles.(0:20) Andy reached out to me through this matchmaker podcast thing, (0:24) and he was gonna talk about his, (0:26) I believe his grandmother being an opera singer, (0:29) and his book about comedy writing, and his speech, (0:31) and he had the littlest blurb. (0:33) All he wrote was, and I’m a senior advisor at CEED, (0:38) and something in my ears ticked up. (0:40) So I knew exactly why Andy reached out.(0:44) I know it’s one of these weird kismet-y things. (0:47) So Andy, welcome, so much to Knocked Conscious. (0:50) Please, this is the first time we’ve ever met.(0:53) Please introduce yourself. (0:55) I understand your profession, where you live, (0:58) general things about yourself. (1:00) I’d love to hear a little bit about yourself.(1:02) Okay, well, I was born and raised (1:04) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, (1:08) which is a city in the far north up here in Canada, (1:13) and it’s cold there. (1:15) So for example, you have to have a block heater in your car (1:20) and plug in your car every night during winter, (1:24) or your car won’t start in the winter, (1:27) like in the morning. (1:29) So we did that a lot, every night during wintertime.(1:33) And I played hockey, and I grew up there (1:36) like any other kid, all the sports. (1:39) But I also spent half my time in Los Angeles (1:44) because my aunt was, my mother was in Edmonton, (1:47) and she’d send me down to visit her sister, (1:50) my aunt, Helen, in Los Angeles. (1:53) And so I went to high school in Los Angeles, (1:56) Otter Noster High.(2:00) And that seems to be the way my whole life has gone, (2:03) that half my time has been in Canada, (2:05) the other half in the United States. (2:09) Now, going through school, (2:11) I guess I went into law school. (2:16) Like I took aim at law school and decided, (2:20) okay, I’m gonna be a lawyer, (2:22) and I went to law school at UBC, (2:25) in Vancouver, University of British Columbia.(2:29) And I graduated, and then over the years, (2:32) I became a member of the bars of British Columbia, (2:37) Alberta, and Ontario, and Canada, (2:40) and New York, and Los Angeles, California, (2:43) in the United States, (2:45) to the point where I’m a US (2:47) and Canadian immigration attorney now. (2:51) And I practiced 10 years in Los Angeles, (2:55) five years in New York. (2:58) And now I’m in Toronto working with Pace Law Firm.(3:03) Apart from that, in my career, (3:06) I also had a communications sort of strain in my life. (3:11) And the communications was first writing, (3:15) and I became a journalist, (3:16) and ultimately I became a United Nations correspondent (3:19) in New York, working at the UN. (3:22) And now I write for Forbes.(3:24) For 10 years, I’ve been writing as a contributor to Forbes (3:29) about immigration. (3:31) And I also wrote some books. (3:33) I have the books here in front of me, actually.(3:35) I’ve got five of them that I’ve published. (3:39) And they are books about, one is on comedy, (3:41) which is the reason why I reached out to you, Mark, (3:44) but also a book about my great aunt, (3:46) who was a famous opera star way back (3:49) in the golden years of opera (3:51) in the first decade of the 1900s. (3:54) But it’s not a book about opera.(3:57) It’s a book about reaching the very top of your field, (4:01) and what does it take to rise from obscurity and nowhere (4:05) and get to the very top, (4:07) whether it’s opera or law or podcasting or whatever it is. (4:13) So that’s- (4:13) It’s about drive. (4:14) Yeah.(4:15) About willpower, drive. (4:16) Yes. (4:17) And those intangibles.(4:18) Yeah. (4:19) And then something that may be significant (4:22) for this discussion is I wrote a book (4:24) called The Young Professional, (4:27) which is a book that’s, (4:29) it’s called A Real World Survival Guide (4:31) for the New College Graduate, (4:35) about the three things that I noticed (4:37) in most young people that are concerns. (4:41) And the three things are money, time, and balance.(4:48) So I wrote about those things in that book. (4:50) And- (4:52) Somehow I found you on our matching podcast page. (4:58) And I thought, gee, I’d like to go on that guy’s program.(5:01) And I reached out to you, and here I am. (5:04) Yeah, so we’ll see how we feel (5:05) at the end of the conversation, to be honest, (5:07) because it’s very interesting. (5:10) I’m absolutely mesmerized that you’re in immigration law.(5:14) Obviously, we’ve seen some- (5:16) I’d love for you to share a little bit about that (5:18) because we’ve seen some clear things (5:20) with the election that happened, (5:21) the H-1B visa thing. (5:23) We’re talking about the O-1 visa (5:25) and everybody’s conflation of the two, (5:28) and the different types of things. (5:30) Would you like to just expand a little bit about that? (5:33) And then I definitely want to get into C-E-E-D (5:35) and your history in that, (5:37) because you’re gonna be surprised (5:40) with what we’re gonna talk about, I’m pretty sure.(5:42) Well, let’s talk about immigration. (5:45) I’ve written a couple of articles recently for Forbes (5:48) about immigration that may be of interest to listeners. (5:51) One is about deportation and how I take the view (5:57) that deporting 11 million people (5:59) is essentially a mission impossible, (6:02) but they’re gonna scare a lot of people.(6:05) They’re gonna try to scare them out of the country. (6:07) Oh, the rhetoric, the rhetoric itself is already- (6:10) Oh yeah, it’s there, it’s there. (6:13) And I write, even if you could, (6:16) let’s say you could get all these 11 million people together (6:19) in a concentration camp or whatever, somewhere, (6:23) the countries where they’re from have to agree and say, (6:27) okay, well, we’ll take these people back, (6:28) the ones from our country.(6:30) I thought the understanding though, (6:33) if we did a remain in Mexico type policy, (6:35) we could export them to the country that they went through, (6:38) because isn’t each country supposed to accept them that way (6:41) and they didn’t, they just let them through? (6:43) So there’s arguments can be made there, right? (6:45) Yes, there could. (6:47) A challenge we have there is imagine (6:49) you’re the president of Mexico, (6:52) about 6 million out of the 11 million are Mexicans. (6:57) So do you want 6 million people returning to you (6:59) from Mexico back to, you know, (7:01) from America back to Mexico? (7:03) And those guys are all earning money (7:05) and sending money to Mexico to support the family (7:08) and other kids and the grandmas, et cetera.(7:12) But my biggest concern, (7:15) one of my concerns from my understanding, (7:17) please explain if it’s a neophyte understanding. (7:20) For example, Haiti, people coming through Mexico, (7:24) that country is supposed to hold them. (7:26) They are not supposed to let them through.(7:28) That’s certain. (7:29) And they have, (7:31) and there’s been a complete concerted effort to do so. (7:34) We see, and we’ve seen the results, right? (7:36) And even Canada, I think, (7:38) hold a, I think, talked about a 2 million person (7:41) immigration into Canada of only 30 million people.(7:44) That is one point, what’s that, 50? (7:46) You know, that’s a huge chunk. (7:48) One, you know, two, one sixth, you know, (7:50) one 15th, 7% increase. (7:52) Yeah.(7:53) It’s true. (7:53) Canada does have a large underground population (7:56) of people who are undocumented. (7:59) Not quite as big as the America.(8:01) A concern Canada has, (8:03) just as a matter of interest for you, (8:05) suppose even 1% of the 11 million decide, (8:08) I’m going to Canada. (8:10) Let’s see, 10% would be 1.1 million. (8:13) That’s one 30th, right? (8:14) Yeah.(8:15) It’s 3%, that would be a 3% change (8:17) in Canada’s population like that. (8:19) Like that would be a shock. (8:20) In addition to the programs (8:22) that you already have in place.(8:23) I mean, it’s not like America has those, (8:25) even though they are giving them to those, (8:26) to the immigrants. (8:27) Right. (8:27) It’s not like that’s a part of the national identity yet (8:30) in a national healthcare sense (8:32) or these other kinds of things.(8:33) So it’s going to be a shock to Canada. (8:37) H-1B visas. (8:39) Look, I just saw a report that a group made (8:42) about H-1B visas and a rewrite proposing like a… (8:49) The problem there is the Congress doesn’t work properly.(8:52) If the Congress could sit down (8:54) and just talk rationally and reasonably to each other, (8:57) they could probably sort out that problem. (8:59) That’s the workforce of the Canadian, (9:02) not the Canadian, American system. (9:06) And if they could just straighten that one out, (9:08) that would make such a difference.(9:10) Well, I can speak to that though, Andy. (9:13) Let’s be honest. (9:14) I’m a critic of all sides of this.(9:16) Okay. (9:16) Because this is where my challenge, I think, (9:20) lies on the American side is. (9:22) They don’t want to fix the problem, (9:24) just like they didn’t want to fix abortion (9:25) because it’s always a talking point.(9:27) It will always garner votes. (9:29) It will always garner support, money, (9:31) whenever it’s under attack, (9:33) whenever abortion’s under attack, (9:34) just got boom, boom, boom. (9:36) All these funds start pouring in on the abortion side.(9:40) Then when immigration starts going crazy, boom, (9:42) all this funds just pouring. (9:44) And that’s all it is. (9:44) These are all talking points, rhetoric by our people.(9:47) They don’t want to fix. (9:48) As a matter of fact, Marco Rubio, (9:50) Mr. gonna be Secretary of State, I believe, correct? (9:54) He’s helped sign in with Dick Durbin, for example, (9:58) 500,000 immigrants from Venezuela, (10:00) to destabilize their country, to make them destabilized. (10:04) Not for our benefit, brought them to our country (10:08) to destabilize them and play imperial mind games.(10:12) These are the things that we’re starting to see (10:15) and these are the repercussions. (10:17) So what I’m finding is we are the ones, (10:20) America are the ones displacing all of these people (10:24) from the Middle East. (10:25) They send them to Europe (10:26) and it seems to be a global initiative (10:28) to spread everyone out and to have them absorb.(10:32) And I look at Germany, for example, (10:34) after they accepted all those people (10:36) in the late 90s and 2000s. (10:38) A million people they accepted. (10:40) Yeah.(10:41) So I’m sorry, I bloviate here, (10:44) but it’s only to kind of share (10:45) where the frustrations are from those sides. (10:48) You got your finger on the right dial there. (10:51) That’s one of the big things.(10:53) It’s a money grab. (10:55) It’s, you know, if you have no scruples (11:00) and you wanna raise money, (11:02) raise hell about immigration (11:04) and, you know, like all the fentanyl that’s coming through (11:07) and the criminals and all that. (11:09) And the money starts pouring in, just pouring in.(11:13) And the drug war thing too. (11:15) And the war on drugs does not work, does not work. (11:18) Certainly not the way we’ve done it.(11:20) I mean, we can talk about a, you know, (11:22) a cultural war on drugs, but we can’t, (11:24) this is not a, it’s not a combatant type war thing. (11:27) Cause we then become the dark market (11:30) selling drugs to our own inner city (11:32) to fund the war, to keep it going. (11:35) I mean, and then we incarcerate these children (11:37) and they become our slaves for 20 years (11:39) cause they did three strikes (11:40) for holding a possession of some substance (11:43) that only affects them, that only affects them.(11:46) And these kinds of things are out of control, (11:49) in my opinion. (11:50) But, but, okay. (11:51) I’d be interested to hear from you now, Mark.(11:56) What’s the solution? (11:57) Cause I’m looking for a solution. (11:58) I don’t have a good one. (12:00) Do you know something? (12:01) Well, okay.(12:02) So I am a first generation American (12:04) and we’ll get into that as we talk later, but. (12:07) Okay, I’m the same. (12:08) I’m glad, yeah.(12:08) Cause I know I’m a little bit familiar with your story. (12:10) I watched a couple of your podcasts as well. (12:12) So I, and that’s why I’m, that’s why I know it’s, (12:15) that’s why it’s going to be very interesting today.(12:17) I promise you. (12:18) Okay, okay. (12:19) So I’m a first generation American (12:21) and my parents both came here, they met here.(12:24) Now I am blessed to be in this country. (12:27) However, with what’s happened, (12:29) the first thing you do to triage a problem (12:31) is stop the bleeding. (12:33) We need to just lock everything down first.(12:37) The borders need to be 100% secure, (12:39) nothing in or out until, (12:41) and we just have to start there. (12:43) We have to tourniquet and cauterize the wound. (12:45) That’s the start.(12:47) After that, we then need to be very careful (12:51) with our motion. (12:52) But until the bleeding stops, (12:55) we will not get this under control. (12:58) Okay, Mark.(12:58) I’ll just make this comment about that (13:00) cause I wrote an article about that. (13:02) Oh, excellent. (13:03) Here’s my argument to you.(13:06) This is a comparison that the criminal justice system (13:10) does not catch every criminal, (13:13) is not a reason to condemn the criminal justice system. (13:17) It’s gotta do the best that it can. (13:20) And we gotta make it the best that it can be.(13:22) But we will never really probably catch (13:26) every criminal in America. (13:29) And I’m afraid the border is the same way. (13:33) If we’re gonna have to, (13:34) I agree with you gotta seal that sucker up.(13:37) But I’m afraid that, (13:39) you know, whether it’s they’re gonna crawl under (13:42) or over or around or fly over or whatever. (13:45) I do understand that is the challenge. (13:47) And the point is, though, that is, (13:49) no one talks about that is what has to happen.(13:52) I mean, at minimum, it has to be controlled. (13:54) Our coasts are safe. (13:56) I mean, our coasts are pretty much safe, (13:58) but it’s that absolute border.(14:00) We’re generally not concerned about the North. (14:03) So, I mean, you know, there can be concerted efforts (14:05) to work together with Canada to, you know what I mean? (14:08) You know, since Trump threatened these tariffs, (14:11) Canada’s pumped up their border protection like crazy. (14:16) You know, it’s not even the same, you know, policy anymore.(14:19) It’s like unbelievable. (14:21) So, I mean, something good has happened, (14:24) I suppose, on that front at least. (14:26) But we’re in agreement on the, you know, (14:28) you have to seal the border, (14:30) control the border to get anywhere otherwise.(14:34) And then we gotta work on the problem. (14:36) Yeah, and I’m more of a states rights guy. (14:41) I’m also a private property guy.(14:42) So, I don’t even know if the government, (14:44) the federal government, you know, (14:46) I think private properties, private citizens (14:48) can line up on the border if they really want. (14:51) It’s their country that they feel invaded. (14:53) That is their sovereignty, in my opinion.(14:55) The government, and once again, (14:57) these are just general concepts (14:58) of how we feel government’s role is (15:00) in each body, everybody’s lives, for sure. (15:03) So, once again, it’s a reductionist answer on a podcast. (15:07) Yeah, when we talk like that.(15:09) So, Zach, my friend Zach has a good question. (15:11) What would be the ideal solution for secured vetting (15:14) of our immigration system in the West? (15:16) Okay, well, first of all, (15:18) you have to start with a premise. (15:20) Are we not having a secured vetting system (15:23) of our immigration system in the West? (15:25) I think we are.(15:27) It’s not the vetting that’s the problem. (15:30) It’s after the vetting and what happens (15:32) once they get here. (15:34) So, there’s a problem.(15:36) Like, I think most people who are here (15:40) as undocumented immigrants come probably as visitors, (15:45) or, you know, they come, they’re not all sneaky, (15:48) sort of sneaking across the border. (15:50) Most of them come in as visitors, (15:52) or, you know, students, or whatever it is, (15:54) and then they overstay, (15:56) and now we got 11 million overstays here. (15:59) Maybe they’re, I don’t know, (16:00) maybe like three million are across the border, (16:04) but, you know, most of them, (16:05) nine million may be overstayed.(16:08) So, the question is, how do you enforce that? (16:11) And that’s a matter of money and effort. (16:16) And we didn’t have the money, (16:17) and there’s not enough effort. (16:20) So, we need to put money into it.(16:21) I mean, I would argue it’s a will issue. (16:24) Yeah, yeah. (16:25) And once again, it is one of those weird issues (16:28) that I think one side does capitalize on (16:31) more than the other.(16:32) Yeah. (16:33) Just the way we discussed that. (16:35) So, is there anything else about the general immigration, (16:38) what your general thoughts are globally, (16:40) or even within Canada and stuff before we move on? (16:42) Let me just, for those who are unaware, (16:46) right now, there’s over 100 million displaced persons (16:50) with no home in the world, 100 million.(16:54) No matter how great the American immigration system (16:57) is gonna be, there’s no way America can help (17:00) those 100 million people all come to America or whatever. (17:05) That means America has to control coming, (17:09) you know, the immigrants coming into America. (17:11) It just, some people don’t recognize (17:14) that America has to control it.(17:16) Like, the Congress has to control (17:18) the number of people that come in. (17:20) It’s just a fact of life. (17:23) And it does.(17:24) It sets, you know, it’s about 1,250,000 a year (17:28) is what they set as the amount. (17:30) But then a million come across the border illegally (17:33) on top of that, you know, or whatever, right? (17:36) So, that part is what we were talking about (17:38) sealing the border and what has to be done there. (17:40) But the fact that there’s 100 million people with no home (17:46) is staggering in terms of what we have to do (17:49) in this world to make things right.(17:51) Yeah, but, well, and this is where we’re gonna have (17:54) different worldviews kind of off the bat there, Andy, (17:57) because this is the issue I have with government (18:00) is they just globalize your compassion, (18:03) they weaponize your compassion against me. (18:05) Because I care just as much for those 100 million (18:07) displaced people as you do, (18:09) but if I can’t wear my oxygen mask well, (18:11) and if I’m the one bombing the places to displace them (18:14) and make their places worth zero (18:17) as they flee from our 2,000 pound bombs, all due respect, (18:21) okay, and from our economic sanctions, (18:24) and how’s that working out in Venezuela and Cuba and Russia, (18:28) it’s made actually Russia stronger, (18:29) but the more in bed with China and Brazil, for example, (18:34) especially with India increasing their oil consumption (18:38) of Russia from 2% to 22%, for example, (18:42) these are the things in American imperialism, (18:44) it is starting to get the blowback (18:46) that Ron Paul has warned us of for 20, 30 years. (18:50) Okay.(18:50) And this is the result. (18:52) This isn’t the start of it, this isn’t the problem, (18:55) this is the effect of the problem that we did (18:59) with our imperialistic nature, (19:01) after we became the global unit power. (19:03) I get it.(19:04) After a moment. (19:04) I see where you’re headed. (19:06) I tell you what, was Hitler a problem in World War II? (19:12) Not until Churchill made him a problem.(19:15) So if it hadn’t been for Churchill, (19:17) Hitler would not have been a problem? (19:20) Oh, let’s do it. (19:22) Okay, let’s get into this. (19:23) Let’s absolutely get into the nuance.(19:25) So you are Ukrainian-American. (19:27) Yeah. (19:28) I’m sorry, Ukrainian-Canadian, I apologize.(19:30) I’m a German-American. (19:31) Okay. (19:32) So my grandfather was a Nazi soldier.(19:34) So I can tell you my grandfather (19:36) was an anti-aircraft gunner in the Nazi regime. (19:39) My other grandfather was a civilian. (19:41) My grandfather who came to this country (19:44) lived under Hitler, Stalin, and Eisenhower.(19:48) So I can tell you from my history about that. (19:52) So, the nuance of Germany, (19:55) when Germany, after World War I, (19:58) would you argue that the Treaty of Versailles (20:01) stepped on Germany’s throat so strongly (20:04) and made them so embarrassed and shamed (20:07) that that blowback created the rise of Hitler? (20:10) And when he asked for Danzig back and was refused that, (20:14) that may have been a spark? (20:18) Put it this way. (20:19) It certainly was a spark, (20:21) and it certainly does help (20:23) to explain Hitler’s rise to power, yes.(20:27) All right. (20:27) So with that, I agree with you that Hitler is a fact. (20:33) So we’re gonna get into it, (20:35) because let’s talk about the Center (20:36) for Eastern European Democracy, okay? (20:40) To me, it sounds like (20:42) the National Endowment for Democracy.(20:44) It sounds like that’s Victoria Nuland’s outfit. (20:46) It sounds like the IRI, which is John McCain’s MIC head. (20:50) So please share with me, (20:52) the CED is the Center for Eastern European Democracy.(20:55) I’m gonna pull up just the website, (20:57) and I’d love for you to explain everything about it, (21:00) because I don’t wanna make any assumptions about anything. (21:03) Okay, sure, sure, sure. (21:04) Okay.Thank you so much. (21:06) And I’m happy to discuss it. (21:08) I’m happy you’re pulling your oars (21:11) in terms of this discussion and where you’re headed.(21:14) I understand you, and I respect your arguments. (21:19) And I don’t think we’re dissimilar, sir. (21:21) I really don’t think we’re dissimilar.(21:22) I just think we’re different, that’s all. (21:25) So this thing, this center, (21:28) what we’re trying to do is this. (21:31) Someone has a viewpoint.(21:33) We think it’s helpful to what’s going on in Eastern Europe. (21:37) We either publish it under articles (21:40) by contacting the writer and saying, (21:43) hey, you wrote a nice article. (21:44) We’d like to reprint it under articles on the website.(21:49) If they say yes, (21:50) then we reprint it as an article on the website. (21:53) That’s one thing we do. (21:55) Why? Because we like to promote articles (21:58) that we believe talk sense (22:01) about what should happen in Eastern Europe.(22:03) And right now, 90% of Eastern Europe (22:06) is what’s Russia’s doing with the invasion of Ukraine. (22:10) That’s the concern. (22:13) The other thing we do is if someone writes an article (22:16) that we think is good, (22:18) we sometimes summarize the article in a paragraph or two, (22:24) take the hyperlink to the article wherever it was published (22:29) and send that summary out on social media (22:35) saying, hey, here’s a good article.(22:37) Say, for example, one of the generals (22:39) who might’ve written an article (22:41) saying what should be done with the war in Ukraine (22:44) or whatever. (22:45) And we send it out on social media (22:47) to raise the distribution of that article in the world. (22:53) And the third thing we’re doing (22:55) is what I’m doing with you right now, (22:57) which is we’re discussing Eastern Europe (23:01) and in podcasts as guests and so on, (23:06) enlightening the world as to what’s going on.(23:10) And I think the most critical thing I could share with you (23:14) about the war in Ukraine is this. (23:20) In 1994, after the demise of the Soviet Union, (23:26) Ukraine ended up with the third largest nuclear arsenal (23:30) in the world, strategic and tactical nuclear weapons. (23:37) And several of the countries were not happy about that.(23:42) And they called a meeting in Budapest (23:45) involving the United States, the UK, France, (23:49) China, and Russia, and Ukraine. (23:51) And they said to Ukraine, you know what? (23:54) If you surrender your nuclear arsenal to Russia, (23:59) we will guarantee your sovereignty and independence. (24:04) And Ukraine said, okay, we’ll do it.(24:07) And they did. (24:09) But the problem was Russia, (24:12) this notwithstanding World War I, 30 million dead, (24:16) World War II, 50 million people dead, (24:19) all in part about borders in Europe. (24:24) This is the border.(24:25) We agree these are the borders. (24:26) We don’t change borders except by agreement. (24:30) We believe in the rule of law (24:33) and the international rules-based order.(24:37) Is the way I put it. (24:40) Well, by the winners in 1989, (24:45) after November 9th, 1989, (24:47) when the Eastern Wall went down. (24:49) Well, I guess- (24:50) The Eastern Wall, when the Berlin Wall went down, (24:52) that was a unipolar moment.(24:54) Soviet Union was collapsed. (24:55) It was over. (24:56) 91, we told them not one inch east.(24:59) Not one inch east, we said. (25:01) Yeah. (25:02) Over and over again.(25:03) We took Yeltsin. (25:05) We got him drunk. (25:06) We told him lies and we encroached on him inch by inch (25:09) and we started taking away land.(25:12) And you even mentioned in a podcast before, if I may, (25:15) Nyet means Nyet. (25:15) You’re very familiar with Nyet means Nyet. (25:17) Yeah, right.(25:18) And that was about NATO’s, (25:20) the red line of NATO absorbing Ukraine. (25:24) Well- (25:25) How would you like, (25:26) let’s talk about the nuance of that at 91, let’s go. (25:29) We’ll talk about Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary.(25:32) Three already red line states (25:34) that Russia already had issues with. (25:36) Okay. (25:36) And that was the first three.(25:38) Then it was seven more countries. (25:40) All three of them or two of them shared borders with Russia. (25:43) So there felt, there seemed to be an encroachment issue.(25:47) Right now, the United States is talking (25:49) about purchasing Greenland for national security. (25:52) Right. (25:52) While our weapons are on the border of Russia.(25:56) And we tell them Monroe Doctrine for thee, but not for me. (26:01) Okay, well, hang on. (26:02) Russia had no problem with Finland and Sweden joining NATO, (26:08) but it’s all excited about Ukraine joining NATO.(26:11) Why would that be? (26:13) Ukraine has been connected inexorably (26:17) with Russia for hundreds of years. (26:21) How many hundreds of thousands of soldiers died (26:24) to keep the Donbass during the wars? (26:28) In the 17, 1800s, I believe, (26:30) there were hundreds of thousands of Russians who, (26:32) and as a matter of fact, I think Russia said, (26:34) if you wanna join, then give what’s back to us, (26:37) Donbass and Crimea, for example. (26:39) Even they said that.(26:40) So they are the ones who gifted it back (26:42) to Ukraine at that point, right? (26:45) There was a point where there was a gift of land back, (26:48) and they feel encroached. (26:50) Now, I’m sure I’m spouting Putin propaganda points. (26:55) I’m sure that’s what the argument is, (26:57) but I would argue that they’re CIA propaganda points, (27:00) and all the color revolutions throughout the 90s (27:03) that the United States, the CIA, (27:06) and the deep state have backed, I find it very challenging.(27:11) Once again, I don’t want anyone hurt. (27:14) Ukraine was absolutely attacked incorrectly, unjustified. (27:19) It is not a justified attack.(27:21) There is no justification to this, okay? (27:24) But it wasn’t unprovoked. (27:26) It wasn’t unprovoked. (27:28) Oh, okay, I see.(27:29) This is the book, this is the book. (27:31) Scott Horton wrote an excellent book, (27:34) 660 pages, 90 pages of citations, (27:38) not excusing Putin’s actions by any means. (27:41) So my question for you, as a Ukrainian, (27:45) I don’t want anyone hurt, you don’t.(27:48) They’re talking about lowering the military fighting age, (27:51) the hundreds of thousands. (27:52) We knew this was not a winning battle from the get-go. (27:56) We know that Ukraine wanted to fight, (27:58) but we also know, and I don’t know, (28:00) possibly, it might not be 100% true, (28:02) I’ve got pretty good confirmation (28:03) that Boris Johnson tore up a peace proposal a month in, (28:07) a month into this conflict, (28:09) and I don’t know if you’re familiar with that.(28:10) I’m gonna stop because I do want you to share your side, (28:13) and I apologize for how I’m not very good (28:17) at communicating exactly the questions, (28:20) but there are dissonances, but I think we both care, (28:25) and I think we don’t want anyone hurt. (28:27) So I’m gonna hit mute, and I thank you so much for- (28:30) Oh, no, I don’t want you to just mute. (28:33) But I see you have the Putin line down perfectly.(28:37) This is exactly the way to go from Putin’s point of view. (28:42) It’s all NATO’s encroachment on Russia that’s the problem. (28:47) It’s not about the Maidan in Ukraine, (28:49) and it’s not, Ukrainians aren’t fighting for themselves, (28:52) they’re fighting for- (28:53) Oh, the Maidan when you’ve, (28:54) Chenko was removed by the C14 and the right faction.(28:59) I’m sorry, the Nazi Ukraine faction (29:00) that put that Azov battalion in, and then- (29:03) I happen to, but I don’t agree with you (29:06) on the details there. (29:08) I don’t think you seem to know. (29:09) For someone who was not there, (29:12) and the people that you’re talking about, (29:14) I’m not sure they’re that familiar (29:16) with what was going on at the Maidan.(29:18) Like, unless- (29:19) I’m pretty sure they weren’t familiar. (29:20) They were just patsies and pawns. (29:22) I mean- (29:22) I’ll put it this way.(29:24) I’ll put this forward to you, okay? (29:27) If you don’t speak Ukrainian, you might know Russian, (29:31) but if you don’t speak Ukrainian, (29:33) you don’t get a full picture of what’s going on in Ukraine. (29:37) You have, it’s like me trying to tell you (29:40) what’s going on in Brazil. (29:43) I don’t speak Spanish or Portuguese, (29:46) forgive me, Portuguese.(29:48) I can read all the books you want about Brazil, (29:52) but unless I know Portuguese, I can’t get all the details. (29:56) I don’t, I’m not sure I can get them all right. (29:58) And that’s a big problem (30:00) with people writing about Ukraine.(30:02) They really- (30:03) Well, about this one though, (30:04) I can speak to the actions of the United States. (30:06) I don’t need to, I don’t need a single word uttered (30:09) other than- (30:10) Well, let’s start with- (30:11) A continuous position and feeding (30:13) of military equipment into Ukraine. (30:14) Let’s start with the initial question.(30:17) Was it right for the United States (30:19) to enter the war in World War II and fight against Hitler? (30:26) A judgment call? (30:28) As I’d be less interventionist, (30:31) we also pushed, we pushed Japan to attack us (30:34) with an eight-point letter that systematically, (30:38) once again, cornered them, a rabid animal, (30:41) into a place where they felt desperate (30:43) and they attacked Pearl Harbor, (30:45) giving us an excuse to go into the war. (30:47) I mean, I can go back to the creation of the Fed in 1913 (30:51) and oh my gosh, the Great War started in 1914. (30:55) What a shocker that the funds are all, (30:58) it’s all connected, that the war is funded (31:01) and the banks fund the war.(31:03) We are fodder to these forces. (31:07) And I wish that more of us would see (31:08) that we are the fodder, (31:10) not the enemy that attack us. (31:15) Okay, my argument is Hitler was evil, dead evil.(31:21) There was no good evil. (31:23) There was no good Hitler. (31:24) We had to be in the war with Hitler.(31:27) We had to defeat him. (31:29) But there was another guy equally as evil. (31:31) His name was Stalin.(31:33) We didn’t fight Stalin. (31:35) Stalin was never brought to justice. (31:37) He would never paid for his, you know, (31:40) for example, the whole, the more 4 million people, (31:43) you know, starved to death.(31:46) And Stalin was an absolute dictating piece of crap. (31:49) I’m not gonna deny that. (31:51) But I would also argue that Russia (31:52) probably turned the tides of the war.(31:55) And if it wasn’t for Russia- (31:57) What turned the tide? (31:58) Well, Germany turning on Russia. (32:00) If it wasn’t for Germany turning on Russia (32:01) and then attacking the way they did, (32:04) Russia lost what, 30 million? (32:05) I mean- (32:06) No, Russia didn’t. (32:07) Ukraine lost 10 million.(32:09) Absolutely did. (32:10) And how many of those fought on the side of the Nazis? (32:13) Against, on the Nazis? (32:16) I mean, how are we backing the Nazis, sir? (32:18) I just don’t understand that. (32:20) And I understand Russia bad, (32:22) but Russia’s not the communist of Russia, I would argue.(32:27) And Putin is not Stalin by any means. (32:31) Seems to glorify Stalin. (32:33) He loves Stalin.(32:35) Yes, yeah, sure. (32:36) Okay, they all, they glorify, (32:38) yes, they speak of the glory lane (32:39) because they hearken to that propagandist talk (32:42) that they try to, you know, (32:43) that nationalistic thing that we do too, right? (32:46) We all have this. (32:47) I appreciate that.(32:48) So thank you. (32:49) Put it this way, (32:50) there are genocides taking place in Ukraine today. (32:54) Genocide.(32:55) Now you can say, well, that’s their problem, (32:59) not our problem. (33:00) I don’t live my life that way. (33:02) I can’t live my life that way.(33:04) So are you supporting Israel in this time against Gaza? (33:07) Because there’s a genocide going on there. (33:09) I support Israel in so far as the genocide (33:12) that took place that broke out the war, (33:15) but I’m also mindful of the measure of response (33:21) that came from Israel as well. (33:24) Measured response of the majority of people that are dead (33:29) or under 14 years old.(33:30) Is that a measured response? (33:31) I’m saying that I’m critical of the fact (33:34) that it was not a measured response. (33:37) It needed to be. (33:38) I wanna also be clear.(33:40) War is absolute hell. (33:41) Yeah, it is. (33:42) Can we be, we’re both gonna be in agreement with that, sir.(33:45) You and I do not want this war thing. (33:48) I’m just finding, we talk about peace through strength. (33:52) We talk about, we keep escalating.(33:54) People do not understand blowback (33:56) is the only thing that people understand. (33:58) We just got a report back from Anthony Blinken (34:01) who said Hamas has not lost numbers. (34:04) They have not seen a reduction.(34:05) You know why? (34:06) Because 10 minus two equals 20. (34:09) Because their cousins, their uncles, their nephews (34:12) that watch this innocent child blown up, (34:14) that’s what radicalizes them. (34:16) To think it’s more than religious or ideological.(34:20) If you watch your child die, you will change your life. (34:24) I guarantee it. (34:25) So we speak of genocides on this side, (34:28) which are absolutely happening.(34:29) But we defend the genocide on the other. (34:32) And I apologize. (34:33) I was a grade A neocon in the 90s.(34:36) I enlisted in the military. (34:38) I had a, hey Saddam, this is good for you t-shirt. (34:41) And now all I watch, all I watch (34:44) is a destabilization by our government, (34:47) Libya included, the largest sex slaves, (34:50) the largest slave market in Libya.(34:52) Mark, how do you look at Trump? (34:55) And I know we’re getting into politics (34:57) and I don’t wanna be overly. (34:59) Oh no, no, I’m happy to share. (35:01) And we’re having a conversation here.(35:03) My animation is out of passion as it’s yours. (35:07) This is just a really grateful conversation. (35:09) I’m just happy to have it.(35:10) I’m curious on how you see Trump. (35:12) Is he a positive figure in your world or not? (35:15) He’s dangerous. (35:16) I immediately caution of his danger and I’ll tell you why.(35:19) It’s very simple. (35:20) All he did, cause he’s not different. (35:23) These are two wings of the same bird.(35:25) He’s shifting from Russia to China and Iran. (35:29) That is horrible. (35:30) That is awful rhetoric.(35:32) Iran did not have that assassination attempt (35:34) against him at all. (35:36) There is not a single shred of that being the case. (35:39) Trying to use that Soleimani drone strike (35:41) from 10 years ago, what not, (35:44) absolutely ridiculous, or eight years ago (35:45) is absolutely ridiculous.(35:46) Now, that all said, Trump was a net less bad decision. (35:52) I voted Republican every year since 1992. (35:56) Trump twice, 16 and 20.(35:58) I voted Noda this year. (36:00) I have stepped away from voting for the president. (36:02) Who did you vote? (36:03) I, excuse me? (36:05) Did you vote for a president? (36:08) I spoke, none of the above, Noda.(36:10) Yeah, so now that I’m in this space (36:12) where I speak critically, (36:13) I can speak very freely about both sides (36:16) and be honest and not be beholden to a side. (36:18) You’re a libertarian, are you? (36:22) I am rapidly becoming in cap almost to, (36:27) not anarchist, not an anarcho, (36:29) but agorist, voluntarist. (36:31) It’s certainly libertarian minded, yes.(36:33) And this is the point. (36:35) War may be profitable, but peace is prosperous. (36:40) Yes.(36:41) Okay, now I know about our military (36:44) and I know that our military, (36:46) those people at the top get paid so well (36:49) and handsomely for our contribution to that. (36:53) But all that does is devastate other countries. (36:56) It’s our chemicals and bombs.(36:58) We admonish a country for cluster bombs (37:00) and then we let Ukraine use them (37:03) to poison their own bread basket. (37:06) They offer the world such abundance of food (37:09) and now it is poisoned with mines (37:12) and just think about the munitions. (37:15) You know that Russia stole Ukrainian wheat (37:18) and then sold it to Africa, (37:21) arguing that Ukraine was not gonna be feeding them (37:24) and this is their wheat.(37:26) And that’s wrong, 100% wrong. (37:29) Look, I’m happy to, look, Putin is not a good dude. (37:34) Right.(37:34) But I watch and for example- (37:38) Who is a good dude for you? (37:40) Oh no, it’s impossible. (37:42) I mean, do you have to be at that level? (37:44) I would assume everyone has something on their hands. (37:47) I can’t imagine.(37:49) So there’s a realism there, right? (37:51) There’s a realism there. (37:52) Is there a figure that you, you know, admire or- (37:56) If I were to admire it would be Ron Paul, Thomas Massey. (37:59) Ron Paul.(37:59) Yeah, and if you look at what happened with Thomas Massey, (38:02) the day after his birthday, (38:03) they remove him from the rules committee. (38:05) Yeah. (38:05) Why? (38:06) Because he refused to vote with Mike Johnson (38:08) and to continually fund the things that we, (38:11) as Americans, don’t find that in the interest to do so.(38:16) Now, I would argue that we, okay, so we have, (38:20) okay, I’ll leave it there (38:21) because I’m very much enjoying your input on it. (38:24) So can you share a little bit more about, (38:26) but share more about your perspective about what, (38:29) you know, obviously where, (38:31) tell me where Putin obviously went wrong and what he did. (38:34) Tell me your stuff from your perspective.(38:36) I’m going to simplify it, okay? (38:39) It’s like this. (38:40) You’re sitting at home watching TV. (38:42) Someone breaks in the front door, (38:45) grabs a chair, sits down, says to you, this is my home.(38:48) You say, no, no, this is my home. (38:50) He says, no, no, it’s my home. (38:53) Wait a minute, why would it be your home? (38:56) Well, because many, many years ago, (38:59) the people who lived in this house had a son (39:03) who moved from this house and moved over to my house.(39:06) And for that reason, I now have a claim on this house. (39:10) That’s the argument that Russia’s posing for invading Ukraine. (39:15) Is that not the exact argument that is in the book? (39:18) That Israel makes? (39:19) I don’t know about Israel, (39:20) but it’s certainly the argument Russia’s making.(39:22) Well, this is where it becomes a challenge (39:24) because it, once again, sir, this isn’t to my, (39:28) we do not know, I’m not here to character assassinate anyone, (39:30) but there’s a hypocrisy when Israel is more than welcome (39:34) to walk into any house and just take it. (39:36) And now that is an affront that Russia did that. (39:39) And they’re both wrong.(39:41) They’re both absolutely wrong. (39:43) But I find it very interesting that we’re defending (39:46) and funding one side of it and funding the other side of it. (39:49) Oh, no, no.(39:50) Okay, this is the, okay. (39:53) I prefer to argue things by theater, not by, you know, (39:58) this theater, that theater, that theater. (40:00) But I’ll challenge, I’ll go to your argument for you (40:03) just so you’re satisfied, okay? (40:06) There’s nothing wrong with Israelis wanting to create (40:10) an Israeli state in Israel and have it (40:14) and defend it and live there and defend themselves.(40:20) But the problem is from how it started, like, you know, (40:26) Exodus and the story of the Israel, you know, (40:29) the Jews during World War II (40:31) and the concentration camps and so on. (40:34) There’s a hell of a lot, a moral argument there (40:37) for supporting them and trying to find a place (40:40) that’s peaceful and, you know, accommodating for them. (40:45) And yes, they have this religious attachment (40:49) to the Palestinian lands, you know, because, (40:53) but are they the same people that were there, (40:56) you know, a thousand years ago? (40:58) These, you know, there are subjects or talks like that.(41:01) But I understand them. (41:02) If I was Jewish, probably I would feel this way also, (41:06) you know, that there’s not a place for me there somewhere. (41:09) Yeah, and I know we got completely off track.(41:12) I apologize, I’m just worse (41:15) because I connect all the patterns. (41:17) See, I don’t see it. (41:18) These are not separate incidents to me.(41:20) These are all just orchestrated events (41:22) by very incompetent people at the top, in my opinion. (41:25) So this is just my viewpoint. (41:27) Are they all connected? (41:28) So put a pin on it.(41:31) Martyr, if you haven’t, (41:32) I recommend watching Martyr Maids, (41:34) Fear and Loathing in the New Jerusalem. (41:35) It’s a 25-hour podcast that, (41:38) and this is for the audience as well. (41:40) It’s a 25-hour podcast that takes the perspective (41:44) from a Palestinian and a Jewish person (41:46) and constantly asks, what would you do? (41:49) That’s all the questions are.(41:51) It does not provide an answer. (41:53) It just provides things and asks what you would do. (41:56) It’s a brilliant thing by Martyr Maid, Darrell Cooper.(41:59) He’s brilliant. (42:00) So Russia, Ukraine, please. (42:04) Please, could you share where the beginning (42:07) for you happened, where Russia began its peace, if you could? (42:13) All right, well, it’s 300 years ago.(42:17) Along the story I told you, like, you know, (42:20) Russia’s a country that has expanded militarily (42:25) and, you know, it’s all about taking territory (42:29) and expanding that way. (42:31) I mean, historically, I’m not a historian. (42:33) I’m not gonna be able to give you all the particulars, (42:35) but from my understanding of, (42:38) I can refer you to Yuri, the Ukrainian Institute at Harvard (42:43) who can give you the full story if you want it.(42:46) Well, I was just trying to kind of get it more truncated, (42:48) maybe the last 20 or so years, (42:50) just to help kind of probably with your- (42:52) Yeah, put it this way. (42:53) My family who lives in Ukraine, (42:56) was this family watching TV when some guy broke in (43:00) the house and said, this is our house now. (43:01) Wait a minute, this is not your house, it’s our house.(43:05) That’s essentially what’s going on, (43:07) is following World War II, everybody seemed to agree, (43:12) okay, these are the boundaries. (43:13) You wanna change the boundaries? (43:17) You do it peacefully. (43:18) You don’t take a machine gun or a tank and charge in.(43:24) And they did. (43:27) And, you know, America’s involved because they promised, (43:30) look, you surrender your, (43:31) if Ukraine had not surrendered the nuclear arsenal, (43:35) I don’t think we would have a war today, but they did. (43:38) And America promised.(43:40) I can argue that because Libya did the same thing. (43:43) Gaddafi also stepped down his program (43:46) and we saw what happened there. (43:49) So- (43:49) So that makes a lot of sense.(43:52) Now, may I ask, what are arguments specifically (43:56) about the NATO expansion into Ukraine? (43:59) So this is, from what I understand, 2014 is where, (44:04) you know, you’ve changed, well, 2008, (44:05) I think Yovchenko’s gone. (44:07) Yeah. (44:07) Which, the door might not, right? (44:09) So now we’ve got 14, there was another change (44:14) and that was pushed by a group (44:16) within the Ukrainian government that Putin took.(44:21) It seemed like a knee jerk when he jumped (44:23) into Crimea there under Obama, right? (44:26) And I don’t think he actually understood what he did. (44:29) I think he just actually reacted and then thought about it. (44:32) I think it did seem premature, in my opinion, (44:35) as a big mistake.(44:36) Well, he seemed to take offense to the Maidan (44:38) and all the stuff that was going on in the Maidan. (44:41) The place where you and I may not agree on (44:44) is Ukraine is not a country that’s getting paid (44:49) to go out and march and sit in 20 degree below weather (44:52) for, you know, four months protesting the government (44:55) and what Putin is doing. (44:58) Because of a payment, these guys, (45:02) the people are out on the front, (45:03) defending the front right now.(45:05) They’re not fighting for NATO and for America (45:09) to, you know, to take over Ukraine or to somehow, (45:16) like, it’s an impossible argument to argue (45:19) that these people are fighting (45:21) because they want a country free from Russian interference. (45:27) They want to live in a Ukrainian country (45:30) ruled by Ukrainians for Ukrainians and in a democracy, (45:35) a democracy similar in kind to what’s in Eastern Europe (45:39) or Western Europe, like Poland or France, whatever, right? (45:45) Basically what those guys on the front are fighting for. (45:49) And once again, a person’s fight that they believe (45:53) for their homeland is one thing.(45:55) I’m not talking about that. (45:56) I think the United States are manipulating (45:58) the Ukrainian people in this way (46:00) because they pushed and made the Ukrainians (46:04) the pawns, unfortunately. (46:05) So let me ask- (46:06) No, hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it.(46:08) Okay, sure. (46:10) Ukrainians didn’t take on this fight (46:12) because America said, (46:13) hey, hey, you don’t go fight out in the front. (46:15) No, but I would argue that the United States (46:21) encroachment of Russia caused a reactive, (46:25) incorrect, unlawful, unjust war launched on Ukraine by Russia.(46:32) That Ukraine is just the proxy. (46:35) Ukraine is the proxy between two semi, two superpowers. (46:39) Why would Russia have the right to invade Ukraine? (46:43) They don’t have the right, sir.(46:45) They do not have the right to do this. (46:47) This isn’t justified. (46:49) There would be no NATO encroachment.(46:51) It’s only because- (46:52) Sir, just the threat of NATO. (46:54) Once again, some people can be compelled (46:57) to do very bad decisions. (46:59) I would argue that Hitler overstepped.(47:02) I would argue that, now, but I would ask, (47:05) let me ask you this. (47:06) So these are a couple of questions (47:07) because the threat was that Putin would take Ukraine (47:10) and then storm, run, roughshod over Europe. (47:14) Is that your concern, (47:15) or do you think he just wants Ukraine? (47:18) Do you think he just wants the East? (47:21) I’m just asking for you (47:23) where you might think his mindset would be, (47:25) because I would argue he has zero interest (47:28) in global domination the way he thinks he could do.(47:31) He just could not do that, (47:32) and that’s just a ridiculous trope (47:34) that should be taken off the table almost immediately. (47:38) So I’d love for you to share about those things, (47:41) what he’s capable of doing, what he could do, (47:43) what he thinks he wants to do, and all those things. (47:44) Okay.Thank you. (47:45) It’s not Putin. (47:47) It’s Russia.(47:50) Most people think it’s Putin. (47:51) It’s not Putin. (47:52) It’s Russia.(47:53) So you’re talking about the oligarchs (47:54) and the ones actually pushing them? (47:55) The Russian population, (47:57) the surveys show majority of Russians support the war. (48:01) They want the war in Ukraine, (48:04) and they want the restoration (48:05) of the Russian imperial empire. (48:11) If you think when Ukraine loses, if it loses, (48:17) that that will finish the war, (48:21) you’ve got to give your head a shake.(48:23) That’s just the beginning of the war. (48:26) Yeah, I don’t see there being peace in this. (48:30) Ukraine will be absorbed, (48:32) and the soldiers will be absorbed into the Red Army, (48:36) and what’s next? (48:38) Moldova, Baltic States, Poland, and so on.(48:43) So you do think that’s what’s going to happen? (48:47) You think that Poland’s going to- (48:48) Why it is is because he’s stolen so much money. (48:51) He has to have a foreign, (48:55) he can’t have an internal focus (48:57) on what’s going on in Russia. (49:00) Putin is the richest guy in the world.(49:02) Not Elon Musk. (49:04) Putin is the richest guy in the world, (49:06) and he’s stolen it all with his crony oligarchs, (49:12) and they need- (49:13) You’re not concerned. (49:14) I mean, you don’t think Putin’s concern is (49:16) he goes into Poland.(49:17) One step into Poland, (49:19) and Article 5 triggered with NATO. (49:22) He’s not interested in that. (49:24) I can’t imagine him possibly wanting that.(49:26) Once he gets Ukraine down, (49:28) because you can see NATO is falling apart (49:31) as we speak, in a sense, (49:34) because there’s not the unity there that- (49:37) There is unity, and thankfully, so far, (49:40) they’ve been able to line up and support Ukraine, (49:44) but if Ukraine were to falter, (49:48) your kids and my kids, if you have kids, (49:51) will be fighting in Europe because of Article 5, (49:56) for sure, for sure, (49:58) and we may end up fighting in Europe, (50:01) or I don’t know what, (50:03) with rifles running around our streets. (50:06) I mean, this is far-fetched, (50:07) but if you think it’s just, (50:12) oh, let’s just cut off a piece of territory, (50:15) give it to Putin, and the war is over, (50:18) they’re not fighting about territory (50:21) and a piece of land. (50:22) Putin is fighting to eradicate Ukraine completely.(50:28) Guys like me. (50:29) He wants out. (50:32) Shoot me, kill me, or whatever, (50:34) and other people like me, (50:35) especially the ones in Ukraine.(50:38) He wants the- (50:39) Well, I’m sorry for your family and everything, (50:41) and all the people and all your relatives. (50:43) That’s absolutely horrible. (50:44) There’s nothing good about any of that.(50:47) No, guys like you. (50:49) I think that strategically, (50:51) he just wants a land bridge to Sevastopol, and that’s it, (50:54) and he’s clearly built his battle lines (50:56) to just take that whole section. (50:58) It’s locked down.(51:00) He hasn’t advanced in months. (51:02) He’s just been holding the territory where, (51:05) in that area, and I just see that being the case. (51:09) Okay.(51:10) Obviously, we’ve seen a World War I type meat grinder. (51:13) Who can say whose belief is right and whose is wrong, (51:16) I guess, in this conversation? (51:18) Right, well, I look at the actions, (51:19) and I look at strategically on a map (51:20) how he’s set up his defenses, his fortifications. (51:25) It would appear to me that there is a clear line (51:28) that he has drawn militarily through his speech, (51:32) and I do know he went to Kiev first.(51:35) I understand that, but I would have done the same (51:38) because if you get Kiev, they are at least at your knee. (51:42) He could not even cover that land militarily. (51:46) He couldn’t possibly occupy that.(51:49) He knows that. (51:50) He just needed them to bend, (51:52) and like I said, it’s my opinion that we intervene in that, (51:55) and I think there would have been a resolution very early, (51:58) and my heart goes out to the hundreds of thousands, (52:01) half a million, million total on both sides, (52:05) not just the ones. (52:06) The ones that are alive don’t function the way they were.(52:09) No, no, no, no, hold it, hold it. (52:11) This is not a moral equivalent. (52:14) The soldiers, the Russian soldiers (52:15) that are committing the genocides.(52:17) No, absolutely not. (52:18) Yes, absolutely. (52:19) The aggressors get less of a… (52:23) Sir, I’m a rational individual.(52:25) I’m a non-aggression person. (52:26) If you come at me, you know what? (52:28) I’ll take some, but I’ll give more, okay? (52:31) You’re prepared to defend yourself (52:33) if someone attacks you. 100%.(52:35) And I do not disagree with the Ukrainian ideology (52:38) to defend themselves. (52:39) That is not it, but it is my opinion (52:42) that it would be much different without certain means (52:46) where they get just enough to provoke things, (52:49) but not enough to actually win, (52:50) or push back, or things like that. (52:52) There’s an argument there that we share.(52:55) They’re not getting enough support. (52:56) You’re right. (52:57) And you think you want to get, all right, and you want to… (52:59) But you think abolish all the support.(53:01) I’m saying give them more support. (53:03) Right, you’re saying give them more. (53:05) I understand, and I wholeheartedly disagree (53:07) because a no-fly zone would create other issues.(53:10) Because then you talk about border sovereignty right now. (53:12) We let attack them to be fired into Russia. (53:14) So we’ve already lost that battle.(53:16) Everything we said we wouldn’t do, (53:18) we’ve slowly done more and more. (53:20) And if it’s going to be that anyway, (53:23) then why not do it at the beginning, I guess, (53:25) is the defense. (53:25) My defense is, why do any of it to start? (53:28) Well, you do it because your principles call upon it.(53:32) I think you’re a principled individual. (53:35) I am a very principled individual, yes. (53:37) So your principles, somewhere in there, (53:39) there’s got to be a principle about individual freedom.(53:47) Yeah, there is. (53:48) And I would absolutely encourage the Ukrainian people (53:51) to fight to every last breath. (53:53) Fight with Ukrainians for their freedom? (53:57) If I were aggressed upon, I would defend myself.(54:01) What if your neighbor was aggressed upon? (54:05) Would you defend your neighbor? (54:08) If my neighbor and I have a relationship (54:10) and we have that agreement, yes, absolutely. (54:12) We have an agreement. (54:13) It’s called the Budapest Accord.(54:16) We do, we do. (54:17) But we also had the Maidan Agreement, (54:19) which Angela Merkel signed. (54:21) She said it was just so they can fortify the defenses (54:24) in Ukraine and stall.(54:26) It wasn’t to actually create peace. (54:29) So, you know, okay. (54:30) I mean, we could go to it for a tad, and we can.(54:34) And sir, obviously, you know, you speak Ukrainian. (54:38) I cannot, I am but a humble researcher, okay? (54:43) All I know is I came from the war side. (54:47) I came from the war side.(54:49) I absolutely understand it. (54:51) If I, I felt very, I’ll be honest, (54:54) I felt very out of my league (54:56) when you agreed to this conversation (54:58) because I thought you had seen what I might be talking about (55:01) but you roll absolutely with these punches. (55:03) You’re an intelligent, you’re an attorney.(55:06) You have- (55:07) If you look here, if you look- (55:08) There you go. (55:09) Take a look at my book, A Promise Kept. (55:12) There’s a history in there that you might find worthwhile (55:16) in terms of explaining what’s going on in Ukraine.(55:23) And like, here’s what I like about you. (55:27) I like that you, I know you love freedom. (55:29) I know freedom is important to you (55:31) because of your sort of libertarian leanings.(55:36) And I know that you are anti-war, (55:43) that you, wherever someone’s invading improperly (55:50) or whatever, as you’ve expressed, (55:52) you’ve said that you are opposed to that kind of a thing. (55:56) Yeah. (55:57) Where you and I slightly differ (56:01) is in the area of what America is all about.(56:06) I honor and I love the Declaration of Independence (56:11) and that philosophy. (56:14) As do I. (56:15) By the way, I was born in Philadelphia. (56:17) As I know you do.(56:18) So I am the home of the Liberty Bell, my friend. (56:20) I know you do, I know you love it. (56:24) But what you appear to be, (56:27) where we’re parting ways is over the issue (56:31) of to what extent should America be involved (56:34) in what’s going on over there.(56:37) And you clearly- (56:38) Or anywhere, to be completely frank, if I may. (56:41) It’s the imperial nature of the United States (56:45) against which I have complete criticisms. (56:47) It is not the tenets, the culture, the American way, (56:51) none of those.(56:52) It’s the American way that I feel is being under attack (56:55) with the imperial nature (56:56) that we started to adopt from Britain. (56:58) We became the replacement of that. (57:00) And that’s what, I’m more heartbroken, to be honest.(57:03) Let me ask you, about things like (57:07) the way the Indian population in America was treated, (57:12) the black, the slavery and all that, (57:17) the war with Mexico. (57:21) These would be things that you object to also, right? (57:25) Those were things about America’s history. (57:28) Absolutely would object to these.(57:31) We also, and if I may, though, we also, (57:35) as we did these things, (57:36) and as we learned how evil we were as people, (57:39) we did start adopting. (57:40) We did get the Geneva Convention after Dresden, for example, (57:45) and then we commit Dresden in Israel. (57:47) Or in Gaza.(57:49) It’s those things. (57:51) It is those things. (57:52) We are all culpable, (57:54) and I wanna be completely honest with you, (57:56) and you and I are, (57:57) I think you are a completely honest actor.(57:59) First of all, you are Ukrainian. (58:02) I can only imagine your people are being attacked, (58:06) and my heart absolutely feels for you. (58:09) I’m trying to understand that I’d love to save your people (58:13) because my concern now is the draft age (58:16) lowers from 26, (58:17) and there are gonna be no more (58:19) beautiful Ukrainian babies left.(58:21) There’s gonna be no daddies. (58:23) Arguments. (58:24) The problem in Ukraine, (58:25) the war in Ukraine is not about how old the soldiers (58:30) in Ukraine should be (58:31) in order to fulfill the army requirements.(58:34) There’s over a, (58:36) Ben Hodges, you need to spend more time (58:38) listening to Ben Hodges, the general. (58:40) I’m familiar. (58:42) He’s got this down pretty good.(58:44) There’s like a million guys out there (58:46) that could be recruited right now (58:48) that are of the certain age (58:50) that are required to be out in the war. (58:52) The problem is arms. (58:54) You’re not gonna recruit people (58:56) and not give them the arms necessary to fight the war.(58:58) I would agree, yeah. (58:59) Yeah, that’s a big problem for us. (59:02) But- (59:03) But it’s okay.(59:03) Could you, I’m sorry, if I may, Andy, (59:05) could you share that book again, Per Justin? (59:08) What was it called? (59:09) It’s called A Promise Kept, (59:11) A Tribute to Father’s Love. (59:14) And I think you’d find it, (59:16) I don’t know if, (59:17) I don’t mean to be arrogant to tell you (59:19) what books you have to read and so on. (59:21) Oh, no, no.(59:22) We love to hear that. (59:23) We love the recommendation. (59:24) And this is the point, (59:24) you have gifted your time with me, (59:26) a complete stranger, unknowingly.(59:29) And this is, I mean, (59:30) the beauty of this technology (59:32) is that we’re talking in two different countries (59:33) about five different countries (59:35) and possible solutions. (59:38) You know what I mean? (59:38) It’s just a beautiful thing (59:40) that we’re able to engage in. (59:41) One of the great benefits of this discussion (59:43) is you’re giving me a really good workout, (59:46) a mental, intellectual workout.(59:50) And I don’t have all my arms with me here to be able to- (59:53) I did warn you, sir. (59:54) I did warn you. (59:55) And I made sure not to bring any of mine either.(59:56) I didn’t want to bring out the, (59:57) I didn’t want to have it at the ready. (59:59) Which is great. (1:00:00) It’s really great.(1:00:01) I’m so happy you’re reading about, (1:00:04) you know, I’m a little disturbed (1:00:06) by the degree to which you seem (1:00:08) to have lined up with Putin (1:00:10) in terms of arguments and stuff. (1:00:12) But otherwise, like, it’s been a gem of an argument here. (1:00:18) We would probably- (1:00:19) As I would say for you as well, (1:00:21) because I find the talking points the exact 180.(1:00:25) You know- (1:00:26) And the thing is, you are the advocate (1:00:28) because you are Ukrainian. (1:00:29) I mean, you absolutely add a credibility to this. (1:00:33) I’m certainly not glib with anyone about this.(1:00:35) But at least of all, (1:00:37) someone who’s a part of this plight of the invasion, (1:00:40) you are a direct victim of this. (1:00:44) Every day across the screen, (1:00:45) I get news about what’s going on in the front. (1:00:47) You know, it’s hard to not be informed (1:00:50) about what’s going on.(1:00:52) I’ll just share this with you, Mark. (1:00:54) Ukraine is going to win this war, believe it or not. (1:00:58) It will.(1:00:59) And the reason is because they’re fighting for principles (1:01:02) like Americans fought for independence. (1:01:06) It’s not about, you know, a piece of land, (1:01:08) you know, a tank or, you know, $5,000. (1:01:12) It’s fighting about their future and their existence (1:01:15) as a free and, you know, equal people (1:01:19) with everybody else in Europe, et cetera.(1:01:22) And- (1:01:23) And I want them- (1:01:24) I want the people in Ukraine (1:01:25) who want to fight for their freedom to win. (1:01:28) I want everyone who’s fighting for their freedom to win. (1:01:31) I just don’t want other people (1:01:32) to be outside influences unnecessarily (1:01:35) when it might not be 100% organic.(1:01:38) It’s certainly not this case. (1:01:39) Ukraine and Russia do not like each other. (1:01:42) We know this.(1:01:43) This is not- (1:01:44) I would ask you to be careful (1:01:47) about lining yourself up with Putin’s, (1:01:53) like, one of the war- (1:01:55) Okay, this is the final area I want to touch with, (1:01:58) you know- (1:01:58) Oh, please, yeah. (1:01:59) And thank you again for joining me. (1:02:01) Andy, Andy, before you, your last piece, (1:02:03) please share all your information after your final thought (1:02:06) and then we’ll happily call it a day.(1:02:07) Thank you again. (1:02:09) I just want to say that there’s the war, the military, (1:02:13) there’s a diplomatic war, (1:02:15) and there’s a disinformation war. (1:02:17) And Putin is winning the disinformation war (1:02:23) because he’s sharing a false narrative, in my opinion.(1:02:26) Like, the narrative you’re talking about (1:02:28) is straight out of Putin’s war book. (1:02:31) It’s all about NATO and, you know, (1:02:35) there’s a guy named Kuleba, (1:02:38) who was the foreign minister of Ukraine, (1:02:41) who’s put out a video just not long ago, (1:02:43) you can look it up on YouTube, (1:02:46) Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, (1:02:48) in which, in five minutes, (1:02:50) he destroys the argument you’re making. (1:02:53) What I’d argue, though, is the 100 laptop (1:02:55) that 51 people signed said signs of Russian disinformation.(1:03:00) Those are American agents that said (1:03:04) that the 100 laptop was Russian disinformation. (1:03:07) And that was factual, so. (1:03:08) Oh.(1:03:10) Two sides can be wrong or lie or both, right? (1:03:14) I mean, can we- (1:03:14) I don’t know, does Hunter’s laptop (1:03:15) have anything to do with Ukraine? (1:03:18) Yes, it actually does, (1:03:19) because all the Burisma allegations (1:03:22) and the cutout that they have. (1:03:23) Like, yeah, the argument is that he served on a board. (1:03:27) But the State Department, (1:03:29) 51 CIA deep state agents of the United States, (1:03:33) said it was Russian disinformation.(1:03:35) So I could say that any information coming from a side (1:03:39) is those talking points, right? (1:03:41) I’m just saying, just like mine are Putin talking points (1:03:43) and Putin propaganda, (1:03:45) I can absolutely say the same for the other side. (1:03:48) Now, the thing is, I don’t justify Putin for doing this. (1:03:52) This is awful, this is an absolute thing.(1:03:54) But just to say that there’s no culpability (1:03:57) on certain behalf, that’s incorrect. (1:03:59) And all I care about is your people. (1:04:02) I really, truly care about.(1:04:03) I do not want Putin to have any land. (1:04:05) I want Putin to lease- (1:04:06) I want him to lease the land from Ukraine (1:04:09) like they had agreed for 70 years or whatever. (1:04:11) Do you care about Russia’s, (1:04:14) about America’s promise to Ukraine (1:04:16) that if they surrender the nuclear weapons, (1:04:19) that America will support (1:04:21) the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine? (1:04:23) It is my opinion that the United States used that (1:04:28) to get them to demilitarize (1:04:31) and that they could use them as a pawn (1:04:33) for future growth of NATO.(1:04:36) Because they talked about the NATO expansion, (1:04:39) which was a defensive pact against the Soviet Union (1:04:42) and the Warsaw Pact. (1:04:44) It’s not designed to be this governmental entity. (1:04:49) It was a defensive pact, which there was- (1:04:53) How much honest instability was there (1:04:57) in the non-Eastern European countries? (1:05:00) Only within those countries was there instability, (1:05:03) not in Germany or France or Poland, not militarily.(1:05:07) Okay, well, Budapest was in 1994, (1:05:10) long after the Soviet Union fell apart. (1:05:13) So I’m just asking you, (1:05:15) are you ready to honor America’s commitment to Ukraine (1:05:20) that if they surrender their nuclear weapons, (1:05:24) that America will defend its sovereignty? (1:05:27) I would not have made that promise as an American. (1:05:30) So I can’t, America did.(1:05:32) So I can’t, once again, I’m not gonna, (1:05:36) I’m certainly gonna concede the point because it’s happened. (1:05:39) But my argument is these are the instigations (1:05:44) that led to this ultimate retort by Putin, (1:05:48) if that makes sense. (1:05:50) Well, no it doesn’t.(1:05:52) So yeah, we made pacts with many countries over these years. (1:05:56) I’m looking in hindsight now and finding (1:05:58) that many should maybe not have been made. (1:06:01) Many were beneficial.(1:06:02) What was, what didn’t work. (1:06:04) We’re still figuring this out as history writes itself, (1:06:07) right, as we get more information. (1:06:10) Well, the way I would put it is keep your word.(1:06:14) I don’t know if that’s something that’s important to you, (1:06:17) but it is to me. (1:06:18) Yeah. (1:06:18) And in this case, it’s a life and death word, (1:06:23) and it’s about nuclear arms promise.(1:06:27) Would you have kept your word to Yeltsin and Putin (1:06:30) about not moving an inch east (1:06:31) and then putting all those military weapons east? (1:06:34) You have that wrong. (1:06:36) Well, first of all. (1:06:37) No, I’m sorry, I do not have that wrong.(1:06:39) That was in 1991, not one inch east by Herbert Walker Bush. (1:06:44) Wait a minute, excuse me. (1:06:47) 1991 was when the Soviet Union existed.(1:06:50) The Soviet Union does not exist anymore. (1:06:53) That was a promise to the Soviet Union. (1:06:55) So that’s a defunct promise and a collapsing team (1:06:59) when we got the unipolar moment? (1:07:01) That’s okay as the winning side? (1:07:04) First of all, I’m not sure there was a promise.(1:07:07) In fact, hang on, hang on, let me make this point. (1:07:11) Okay, the person who was involved (1:07:16) was the former head of the Soviet Union, the guy- (1:07:23) Yes, I’ve got the names and they, I know, I’m not, (1:07:26) the names are just gonna be, (1:07:29) I can tell you that James Baker (1:07:31) is the one who made those promises. (1:07:36) And it was even about moving weapons (1:07:38) into East Germany after the wall collapsed in 89.(1:07:42) What’s his name? (1:07:46) I’m drawing a blank on the guy’s name, (1:07:48) but he was asked if there was a promise. (1:07:50) He said, no, the guy who just, (1:07:53) the alter ego to Yeltsin, (1:07:56) the guy who was in charge of the Soviet Union at the time. (1:08:00) Come on, what’s his name? (1:08:02) I’d have to look it up in the literature.(1:08:06) I don’t know, sir. (1:08:08) Kravutsin or no, Provotska? (1:08:10) No, no, no. (1:08:13) I apologize, I, yeah, it’s certainly, so, okay.(1:08:16) So we are slightly, we’ll, (1:08:18) I’ll concede the point that we’re in disagreement on (1:08:21) that we made verbal promises to commitments as well (1:08:25) that I feel like we were negged upon. (1:08:28) I mean, once again, I think, and once again, (1:08:33) I think we’re just a difference of opinion on these- (1:08:36) Gorbachev. (1:08:37) Oh, Gorbachev, yeah, Gorbachev.(1:08:39) He stated that there was no promise, Gorbachev. (1:08:43) I have citations and I’m happy to share them. (1:08:46) I’ll send them to you.(1:08:47) I’ll send whatever PDF piece about this, (1:08:49) but I can tell you where the Baker promises, (1:08:52) the H. W. Bush promises, Zabrinsky, all of them, (1:08:55) I can do that as well. (1:08:56) Yeah, but in the Soviet Union, this is Russia, (1:08:59) this is Russia. (1:08:59) So that’s okay then, as when we became the unipower, (1:09:03) the unipolar moment, and we had other control (1:09:06) and they were crumbling.(1:09:07) There was a Warsaw Pact at the time. (1:09:10) It’s not, it’s a promise. (1:09:11) Everything was, but everything was crumbling.(1:09:14) Poland was, Poland’s one of the first countries to join. (1:09:17) Poland’s one of the first Eastern European country (1:09:20) to join NATO, along with the Czech Republic and Hungary. (1:09:23) It’s the first three to join.(1:09:24) And that’s, that’s Warsaw Pact is dissolved at that point. (1:09:27) Would you not argue that? (1:09:28) Because Poland was part of it. (1:09:28) Well, it was, it was dissolved.(1:09:30) So, I mean- (1:09:31) The promises were made to the, if there were promises, (1:09:34) they were made to the Soviet Union (1:09:37) and the Warsaw Pact, which was dissolved. (1:09:41) And- (1:09:41) Okay, okay. (1:09:42) So, it’s more of a semantics thing then.(1:09:45) I mean, it’s not a people of Russia. (1:09:47) Like, it’s not a people that we can, (1:09:50) that we can honor a commitment to a people. (1:09:53) Finland and Sweden, they weren’t, listen, (1:09:57) Finland and Sweden are today NATO members.(1:10:00) So, Russia’s got no problem with that, (1:10:03) but she’s got a problem- (1:10:03) Only in response to their aggressive acts into Ukraine, (1:10:07) which they probably accept, (1:10:09) they accept that as a consequence (1:10:10) of what they’re doing in Ukraine. (1:10:12) That’s what I would argue. (1:10:13) I don’t know that, but I would say, yeah, (1:10:15) well, Finland and Sweden’s not part of us anyway.(1:10:18) We don’t give a flying F (1:10:19) because they’re pretty much protected. (1:10:21) To think Finland wasn’t protected by NATO (1:10:24) if something were to happen, (1:10:26) that I think we would have elite, (1:10:27) we would have absolutely protected Finland, I would argue. (1:10:31) Meaning- (1:10:31) Even before NATO.(1:10:31) States would have. (1:10:34) Yeah, absolutely. (1:10:34) Don’t you think? (1:10:35) Yeah, I do.(1:10:36) Because it would have caused, (1:10:37) absolutely would have been Sweden’s agreement with Finland (1:10:39) or Poland’s agreement with Finland or somebody. (1:10:41) So, sir, I am so grateful. (1:10:43) Thank you again.(1:10:44) Let’s end, I, this has been excellent. (1:10:48) I actually have learned a lot. (1:10:50) So have I. (1:10:50) Because you’ve shared, (1:10:51) you shared a lot of different perspectives with me.(1:10:54) I’m gonna listen to this thing about 50 times (1:10:57) because I need to break this all down. (1:10:59) Could you please share the book, (1:11:01) the book about your, (1:11:02) the book that you wrote, all those pieces. (1:11:04) And then if you could email me a link, (1:11:06) I’m happy to put that in a piece (1:11:08) so we can promote your work as well.(1:11:09) I’ll do that. (1:11:11) Love talking to you, Mark. (1:11:12) That’s great.(1:11:13) Never expected this conversation, (1:11:15) but it was a hell of a conversation. (1:11:18) Yeah, so see, tell us a little bit, (1:11:20) last thing, close off all the things about yourself. (1:11:22) Please show that book one more time for my friend, Justin.(1:11:25) And thank you, thank you so much again for your time. (1:11:27) I’m so grateful. (1:11:28) There’s the book, (1:11:29) I promise kept a tribute to a mother’s love.(1:11:31) It’s a history of my mother’s life, (1:11:33) but in there there’s the history of Ukraine and so on. (1:11:36) So you’ll see a lot there. (1:11:38) There’s also this book, (1:11:39) I’ll just add, (1:11:41) and this is not for sale.(1:11:42) I’m not pushing these books. (1:11:44) You don’t have to buy them, (1:11:45) but I’ll tell you in this book, (1:11:47) Solomia, (1:11:49) star of opera’s golden age, (1:11:51) there’s an even fuller history of Ukraine. (1:11:55) And you’ll see some of the background (1:11:57) that is playing out today in terms of the conflict, (1:12:01) the war, the Russian invasion of Ukraine.(1:12:05) Nice talking to you, Mark. (1:12:07) I’ll send you what I have. (1:12:09) And- (1:12:09) Thank you so much.(1:12:11) And please, once again, to your people, (1:12:13) I hope peace, I hope you get to keep everything. (1:12:16) I do hope, you know, for your people, (1:12:19) that your people win your liberty (1:12:22) and your freedom as much as possible, sir. (1:12:24) I saw a film once of (1:12:29) a guy’s talking to a hell’s angel (1:12:34) and the hell’s angel is, you know, saying, (1:12:36) oh, well, you know, what are you doing? (1:12:38) All this.(1:12:38) And the guy says, I love you, man. (1:12:41) And now the hell’s angel says, (1:12:42) well, that’s very nice to say, (1:12:44) but are you prepared to prove it? (1:12:47) Exactly, right? (1:12:49) Very good. (1:12:51) Touche, Andy.(1:12:52) You got me, my friend. (1:12:53) Take care. (1:12:55) Thank you so much.(1:12:56) I’m going to hit end here (1:12:57) and then we’ll just do a quick chat, (1:12:58) but we’ll close it out. (1:12:59) Thank you, Mr. Simochuk. (1:13:02) Andy Simochuk, is that correct, Andy? (1:13:05) Excellent.(1:13:05) Justin says, thank you. (1:13:07) Let’s put that up. (1:13:08) Thank you, Mr. Simochuk.(1:13:09) I know that Zach was also grateful. (1:13:11) Thank you again. (1:13:12) It’s been great.(1:13:13) Everyone, I’ve got another podcast in 45 minutes (1:13:16) with the real SNS, wethefemale.net. (1:13:20) Everybody jump back on in 45 minutes. (1:13:23) I have to reset my brain. (1:13:24) It is going to be Andy.(1:13:26) Thank you again. (1:13:27) Have a great day, sir. (1:13:28) Take care, everybody.