Gill Bennett

What?

The enemy within How Europe should respond to Trump's National Security Strategy

Latest post provides a critique of Trumps’ National Security Strategy, placing it in context of past NSS’s, and asks how seriously we should take it and how Europeans should respond. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...?

How Britain can help Ukraine’s army without the US - and punish Russia With Washington distancing itself, the UK's role in Ukraine has never been more essential

How Britain can help Ukraine’s army without the US - and punish Russia
My latest piece for @theipaper - my key point is at the end: the need for "strategic clarity," to be clear and explicit with Russia what happens if they break any ceasefire
inews.co.uk/news/world/u...

The enemy within How Europe should respond to Trump's National Security Strategy

New post out from @ldfreedman.bsky.social

"The enemy within"

On Trump's mad national security strategy, what it means in practice, and how Europe should respond.

(£/free trial)

samf.substack.com/p/the-enemy-...

UK Election Security is Threatened by Political Money Laundering Via Cryptocurrency Cryptocurrency increases the ‘attack surface' for electoral interference. The UK government's focus is too narrow.

'The approach to political donations in the UK remains naïve and those ostensibly empowered to police the system are underpowered' writes Neil Barnett.

NKVD Plan to Undermine the Catholic Church in Lithuania in 1941 Top secret plan devised by Beria and Merkulov discovered in the archives

My new article!

"NKVD Plan to Undermine the Catholic Church in Lithuania in 1941"

Based on my ongoing research of #NKVD/#MGB/#KGB files at Hoover Library & Archives! @socintelhist.bsky.social
@hooverinstitution.bsky.social

The link: tinyurl.com/2ah69ze6

America's Weakness, Europe's Strength The 'new' national security strategy is the admission of defeat from a declining country

🇺🇸 attempts to force 🇺🇦 surrender are currently 0 from 3. Europe is winning, even if it doesn't realise.
Trump's national security strategy exposes weakness. Its attitude to Europe is like the obsessive ex stalking the former partner, wondering who that new guy is.
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...

The Surprising Origins of the BBC’s ‘Left-Wing Bias’ David Nowell Smith explores how commercial rivalries inspired the first accusations of institutional bias at the BBC.

Today’s campaigns against the BBC, from Donald Trump to The Daily Telegraph, have a surprisingly long history.

In our latest article, David Nowell Smith explores how commercial rivalries inspired the first accusations of left-wing bias at the BBC.

Prime Minister of Poland. 🇵🇱

Have to admit, a bit nostalgic for one of these (the one with the heaviest bass). . .

What happened to the Gaza peace plan? Getting to the next stage

Trump wants to move to next stage of Gaza peace plan. Key issue is the formation of the International Stabilisation Force, which Israel demands must fully disarm Hamas but to which no one will contribute if asked to try. All in new post (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/what-happe...

☠️ The Economist: Russia lost 1% of its pre-war male population in Ukraine.

In total, Russian losses in dead and wounded amounted to between 1 million and 1.35 million soldiers.

Over the past three years, Russia has been able to occupy an additional 1.45% of Ukrainian territory.

Tragedy of the West: Sacrificing Ukraine and the Rules-Based Order The result of Russia's war of aggression is a product of the ambivalence of the West, which by turns supported Ukraine's defence in the conflict and refused to escalate its response to a level consistent with the threat Russia poses. The rules-based ord...

'Russia’s destruction of Ukraine continues because Ukraine is under-supported, while Russia remains overprotected' write Ariana Gic, Marko Mikhelson and Roman Sohn.

The Winner's Curse A discussion with Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler

New post just out:

A discussion with Nobel prize winner Richard Thaler on behavioural economics, nudging, organ donations, Bitcoin, mental accounting and much more...

(Free to read)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...

The 2025 War on the Rocks Holiday Reading List It wouldn’t be the holidays without our annual War on the Rocks book roundup. Check off your gift list or pick a book to enjoy by the fire. Happy reading.

📕 🎄 📘 I am grateful to Walter Landgraf for including #WatchingTheJackals on this year’s @warontherocks.bsky.social Holiday Reading List.

It means a great deal to have the story recognised alongside such an impressive list of titles 👉 shorturl.at/fc6l1

🙏 to the GUP team & editors for their support

Poland, Ukraine, and Russia's War on History Moscow's stirring of the tragic past between Poland and Ukraine is a facet of its information campaign against the West, yet understanding that history – and how it is manipulated – can help those confronting Russia.

'Russian strategic planners understand that history can divide allies. Poland’s critical role within NATO and as Ukraine’s main logistical corridor makes it an ideal target for manipulation' writes Floris van Berckel Smit in the latest RUSI Commentary.

Currently - Playing Spies - BBC Sounds Gordon Corera investigates Russia's new front line of amateur espionage.

I spoke to @gordoncorera.bsky.social for #Radio4's "Currently", about #Russia's use of #criminal gangs in its #covert activities. It features the excellent @drichterova.bsky.social, Dominic Murphy and others.
Worth a listen.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
@cfs-rusi.bsky.social @soc-ace.bsky.social

British playwright Sir Tom Stoppard dies [FREE TO READ] Czech-born author of witty, cerebral plays was also an award-winning screenwriter

RIP the greatest British playwright of our time on.ft.com/4anfEQJ

Sorry to hear about the death of Tom Stoppard, a truly great playwright. I have memories connected with all his plays, beginning with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead which i saw at the NT with John Stride and Edward Petherbridge. Also Hordern/Rigg in Jumpers . . could go on but run out of...

How future generations will remember Pete Hagueseth:

The Church Committee Report: Revelations from the Bombshell 1970s Investigation Into the National Security State Revelations from the Bombshell 1970s Investigation Into the National Security State

It's Black Friday. You might as well pre-order the first mainstream published version of the Church Committee Report. Abridged to its most essential findings, this 1975 report reads like the very best investigative journalism mixed with a spy novel covering assassinations, surveillance, sabotage.

Trump Pauses All Asylum Applications and Halts Visas for Afghans

NEW: The New York Times got a State Dept. cable telling diplomats to destroy visas that had been approved and printed to give to Afghans. And diplomats are told to do scheduled interviews but not grant visas. US shuts all legal entry routes for Afghans. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/u...

Canada Fighting “Billions” of Attacks a Day, Cyber Agency Says | The Walrus In an exclusive interview, CSE chief Caroline Xavier warns adversaries are growing faster, smarter, and more aggressive

CSE Chief Caroline Xavier interviewed by Wesley Wark
thewalrus.ca/canada-fight...

Excellent piece as usual.

This observation about constraining domestic consumption to increase investment - and the vicious politics of that - is particularly important. It is manifestly not grasped by many - including, concerningly, government ministers.

A vicious, orchestrated, and unchecked campaign of violence by weak men against women and girls is raging like wild fire.
 
As we start 16 Days of Activism, we must stand with survivors, with partners supporting them, and hold perpetrators to account. #16Days

MAGA Meltdown? Why the Republicans are in serious trouble

New post just out:

"MAGA Meltdown?"

With Trump's approval ratings collapsing the Republicans are starting to realise they're in serious trouble.

Here's why it's going to get worse for them.

(£/free trial)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/m...

This is so important. People who study international relations love to fight over whether interests or values define relationships. It is both. An interest is something you define. And your values come into the equation. It is not either or.

I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.

They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1

Fiona Hill, geopolitical strategist: 'The US is giving Russia tremendous influence over Europe' According to the former Trump adviser, 'This White House wants Ukraine to capitulate to Russian demands to end this war, without proper consideration of all the factors at play.'

Fiona Hill, geopolitical strategist: 'The US is giving Russia tremendous influence over Europe'

www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...

Essential reading, and an antidote to complete depression!