Paul D. Williams

Goma, Congo: Understanding the M23 and RDF Attack Goma, Congo: Understanding the M23 and RDF Attack - PassBlue

Good overview of the crisis in Goma 🇨🇩 and especially Rwanda’s🇷🇼 role in it by @jasonkstearns.bsky.social via @passblue.bsky.social
www.passblue.com/2025/02/02/g...

Private contractors are part of almost all peace operations. It depends what tasks/services/activities he's talking about in particular.

Peacekeeping armies: how the politics of peace operations shape military organizations What is a ‘peacekeeping army’ and why do some states develop them? This article lays out the first attempt to theorize this concept and illustrate its util

Our longer article in International Affairs is now #OpenAccess for a short period:
🌏 academic.oup.com/ia/article/1...

Peacekeeping armies: what are they, why do African states build them and what impact do they have? Poorer states, like Rwanda and Burundi, have economic incentives for maintaining peacekeeping armies.

#Peacekeeping armies: what are they, why do African states build them and what impact do they have?

I write with @pdwilliamsgwu.bsky.social for @theconversation.com about #Africa & peacekeeping armies

theconversation.com/peacekeeping...

It's a helpful paper: the UN🇺🇳 needs to change the way its
peace operations are planned, budgeted and staffed. ✅
And you hit the nail on the head with this paragraph...😀👍

Commissioned by the UN🇺🇳Department of Peace Operations, our new study analyzes models for UN peacekeeping to address evolving global threats. It aims to shape discussions for the 2025 Berlin Peacekeeping Ministerial, focused on "The Future of Peacekeeping."
peacekeeping.un.org/en/study-on-...

⭐Job Alert ⭐
GW's Elliott School & Political Science Dept are hiring a full-time, tenured Assoc/Full Prof. in security studies beginning Fall 2025. Seeking a strong track record of research, teaching & policy engagement in the field of security studies, broadly defined.
www.gwu.jobs/postings/116...

Info-nugget😮
The conflict landscape in Myanmar🇲🇲 has become the most fragmented in the world. ACLED records over 2,600 new non-state actors participating in Myanmar’s conflict since April 2021, accounting for 21% of total active non-state armed groups worldwide.
acleddata.com/knowledge-ba...

Commissioned by the UN🇺🇳Department of Peace Operations, our new study analyzes models for UN peacekeeping to address evolving global threats. It aims to shape discussions for the 2025 Berlin Peacekeeping Ministerial, focused on "The Future of Peacekeeping."
peacekeeping.un.org/en/study-on-...

Today seems like a good day to share this Scientific American story on how vaccines have saved more lives throughout history than any other intervention

www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-...

Endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States — National Security Leaders for America Kamala Harris will make an excellent Commander-in-Chief, while Mr. Trump has proven he is not up to the job. Effective leadership requires in-depth knowledge, careful deliberation, understanding of ...

741 former national security leaders including fifteen 4-star generals and admirals, along with 230 former flag officers endorse Kamala Harris for President. They write, "Our endorsement of Vice President Harris is an endorsement of freedom and an act of patriotism."
www.nsl4a.org/nsl4a-announ...

So there will be a third AU peace operation in Somalia: AMISOM (2007-22) --> ATMIS (2022-24) --> AUSSOM (2025-??). Details lacking thus far...
papsrepository.africa-union.org/handle/12345...

👍🏻

This is an appalling and horrifying story about the attacks researchers like @katestarbird.bsky.social undergo by those determined to silence any who call out their disinformation and other underhanded tactics. Very similar to what climate scientists experience but with even MORE vitriol.

What were the top causes & categories of deaths of U.S. Army active duty soldiers, 2014-2019?
Ans:
1) Suicide (GSW or asphyxiation)
2) Accidents (mainly motor vehicles but quite a lot of drug overdose) 
3) Natural causes
4) Combat 
5) Homicide
Source: www.health.mil/Reference-Ce...

the very worst shit online is always generated by a small, obsessed cult and SUPRISE, when you ban that small group you have mostly solved the problem

Just recording the idiocy for posterity...

All us researchers need to be aware of the “bullshit industrial complex.”

The Somali National Army Versus al-Shabaab: A Net Assessment – Combating Terrorism Center at West Point Abstact: An important question for the future of Somalia is if the African Union withdraws the remainder of its forces from the country by December 31, 2024, would the Somali National Army (SNA) or al...

Inspired by @jjschroden.bsky.social work on the war in Afghanistan🇦🇫, I’ve written a net assessment of the Somali🇸🇴 National Army versus al-Shabaab in the event of a withdrawal of African Union peacekeepers.
My assessment? Well, it’s not good news… ctc.westpoint.edu/the-somali-n...

"What’s Left of Sudan🇸🇩 After a Year At War?"
This is a really good overview of the war's local, national and international dynamics and devastating consequences. Via @crisisgroup.bsky.social
www.crisisgroup.org/africa/horn-...

Al-Fashir is the last major city in the vast, western Darfur🇸🇩 region not under control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). But a truce that protected it from the year-old war has been broken. Its 1.6 million people are now at real risk of RSF attack. www.reuters.com/world/africa...

Russian🇷🇺 equipment losses in its war vs Ukraine🇺🇦 are estimated at c.8,800 since Feb 2022. Nevertheless, the IISS assesses that Russia will be able to sustain its assault on Ukraine🇺🇦 at current attrition rates for another 2–3 years, and maybe even longer.
www.iiss.org/online-analy...

Interesting article on the increased use of Iranian🇮🇷 drones by the Sudan🇸🇩 army vs the RSF. m.jpost.com/internationa...

“The prime minister has asked us to withdraw U.S. troops, and we have agreed to do that.” 🇺🇸troops are leaving Niger🇳🇪 at the request of the junta. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Researchers find lower grades given to students with surnames that come later in alphabetical order Knowing your ABCs is essential to academic success, but having a last name starting with A, B or C might also help make the grade.

An analysis by University of Michigan researchers of more than 30 million grading records from U-M finds students with alphabetically lower-ranked names receive lower grades. This is due to sequential grading biases and the default order of students' submissions in Canvas. #AcademicSky #EduSky #Bias

FY2024 budget docs suggest that US🇺🇸 defensive missiles are, overall, roughly twice as expensive as offensive missiles, when averaging all-up-round unit costs. This asymmetry is mostly due to the significant technical demands of air & missile defense interceptors. www.csis.org/analysis/cos...

From 1 year of war in #Sudan🇸🇩, 15 April 2023 - 15 April 2024, ACLED recorded 5,550 events of political violence and +15,550 reported fatalities. One in two children in Sudan are currently or have been within 5km of the frontlines. acleddata.com/2024/04/14/s...

And here's the IDF's response to The Guardian's article www.idf.il/189654

This is such an interesting article for thinking about different dimensions of AI military applications. "‘The machine did it coldly’: Israel used AI to identify 37,000 Hamas targets."
www.theguardian.com/world/2024/a...