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Not to be overly defensive of musk, but musk is currently one of our most major diplomatic point of contact with Russia (SpaceX deal to send up cosmonauts to is

Not to be overly defensive of musk, but musk is currently one of our most major diplomatic point of contact with Russia (SpaceX deal to send up cosmonauts to iss) so it's kind of in the US interest to ask musk to gas up putin a bit. Although I wouldn't find it hard to believe that musk is that clueless, I also have to consider that it might be a diplomatic task.

JumpCrisscross 3y ago
> musk is currently one of our most major diplomatic point of contact with Russia Genuinely curious where you’re getting this. For what it’s worth, no, Musk is not a diplomatic contact for anyone in the West with Russia, though there is rising concern he sees himself as such, which leads to him e.g. leaking Ukrainian firing plans to Moscow’s envoys. > it's kind of in the US interest to ask musk to gas up putin a bit Not particularly. Though I can see him being used without knowing it. I am a huge fan of SpaceX and Musk. But while Starlink is hugely relevant to the war, Musk per se is presently between irrelevant and mildly damaging to American interests.
- throwawaymaths 3y ago
  > Genuinely curious where you’re getting this it's in the text. SpaceX is a provider for Roscosmos. Pretty public knowledge: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-crew-dragon-launch-russian-cosmonaut-nasa-crewmates-space-station-flight/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-crew-dragon-launch-russi... It would be crazy for the US state department to NOT use that as some sort of opportunity.
  - deleted 3y ago
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  - JumpCrisscross 3y ago
    > SpaceX is a provider for Roscosmos..would be crazy for the US state department to NOT use that as some sort of opportunity Sure. That doesn't make Musk a "major diplomatic contact," nor even a pertinent one (let alone "most major"). Also, these are NASA launches. NASA paid for them and handled the seat swap with Roscosmos [1], though there was no doubt coördination between the latter and Hawthorne. [1] https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/07/its-official-a-russian-cosmonaut-will-fly-on-crew-dragon-this-fall/ https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/07/its-official-a-russi...
    - throwawaymaths 3y ago
      I'm sorry would it be helpful if I said "likely a major diplomatic contact"? I'm not sure if you're being naive about international politics, obsessively pedantic, or knee jerk argumentative. Point being if musk goes anti-russia or possibly even neutral-but-following-sanctions-too-carefully we absolutely risk losing the rideshare (diplomatic point of contact, beyond just musk) and upticking the risk of nuclear conflict. And I imagine the state dept. Is aware of this.
      - JumpCrisscross 3y ago
        > would it be helpful if I said "likely a major diplomatic contact"? No, this is still wrong. > being naive about international politics, obsessively pedantic, or knee jerk argumentative I'm telling you the reality from D.C. Musk is not a diplomatic asset. To the extent he might be, it's indirectly. His contacts in Russia are simply not unique and deep enough to merit that designation. (And the risks of blowback, given his public profile, too high.) > we absolutely risk losing the rideshare (diplomatic point of contact, beyond just musk) Roscosmos needs NASA more than the other way now. Due to SpaceX. > and upticking the risk of nuclear conflict This is a unique perspective.

JumpCrisscross 3y ago

> musk is currently one of our most major diplomatic point of contact with Russia Genuinely curious where you’re getting this. For what it’s worth, no, Musk is not a diplomatic contact for anyone in the West with Russia, though there is rising concern he sees himself as such, which leads to him e.g. leaking Ukrainian firing plans to Moscow’s envoys. > it's kind of in the US interest to ask musk to gas up putin a bit Not particularly. Though I can see him being used without knowing it. I am a huge fan of SpaceX and Musk. But while Starlink is hugely relevant to the war, Musk per se is presently between irrelevant and mildly damaging to American interests.

throwawaymaths 3y ago
> Genuinely curious where you’re getting this it's in the text. SpaceX is a provider for Roscosmos. Pretty public knowledge: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-crew-dragon-launch-russian-cosmonaut-nasa-crewmates-space-station-flight/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-crew-dragon-launch-russi... It would be crazy for the US state department to NOT use that as some sort of opportunity.
- deleted 3y ago
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- JumpCrisscross 3y ago
  > SpaceX is a provider for Roscosmos..would be crazy for the US state department to NOT use that as some sort of opportunity Sure. That doesn't make Musk a "major diplomatic contact," nor even a pertinent one (let alone "most major"). Also, these are NASA launches. NASA paid for them and handled the seat swap with Roscosmos [1], though there was no doubt coördination between the latter and Hawthorne. [1] https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/07/its-official-a-russian-cosmonaut-will-fly-on-crew-dragon-this-fall/ https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/07/its-official-a-russi...
  - throwawaymaths 3y ago
    I'm sorry would it be helpful if I said "likely a major diplomatic contact"? I'm not sure if you're being naive about international politics, obsessively pedantic, or knee jerk argumentative. Point being if musk goes anti-russia or possibly even neutral-but-following-sanctions-too-carefully we absolutely risk losing the rideshare (diplomatic point of contact, beyond just musk) and upticking the risk of nuclear conflict. And I imagine the state dept. Is aware of this.
    - JumpCrisscross 3y ago
      > would it be helpful if I said "likely a major diplomatic contact"? No, this is still wrong. > being naive about international politics, obsessively pedantic, or knee jerk argumentative I'm telling you the reality from D.C. Musk is not a diplomatic asset. To the extent he might be, it's indirectly. His contacts in Russia are simply not unique and deep enough to merit that designation. (And the risks of blowback, given his public profile, too high.) > we absolutely risk losing the rideshare (diplomatic point of contact, beyond just musk) Roscosmos needs NASA more than the other way now. Due to SpaceX. > and upticking the risk of nuclear conflict This is a unique perspective.