New post just out:
"Sovereignty for sale"
The UK is uniquely exposed to the power of US tech monopolies - from Palantir to AI and cloud services.
Why is it so dangerous? What are other countries doing? And what should we do?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/s...
Trump is an ignorant dumbfuck who is putting our naval vessels and the personnel on them in direct and serious danger.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian...
New post just out
"Is 'deliverism' dead?"
A guest post from the brilliant @dmk1793.bsky.social on one of the main points of strategic confusion within the Labour party.
Is winning just about delivery or more about narrative?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
I always benefit from reading @ldfreedman.bsky.social
Post from yesterday. Conclusion still stands. Israel/US want regime change but depend on Iranian people to finish the job. Regime, partially decapitated, fighting for its survival. As it lashes out regionally can it stay in control at home? (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/the-us-and...
First assessment of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. They want regime change but leaving it to the Iranian people to change the regime. Regime fighting back by causing disruption in region, which may backfire. (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/the-us-and...
Some news on my next book....
www.thebookseller.com/rights/sam-f...
Indeed.
This is the piece I published on substack on 25 February 2022. Not everyone thought it would be over in a matter of days. samf.substack.com/p/a-reckless...
Thats a challenge! Let me think what might work.
Latest from @samfr.bsky.social explains what the government is trying to do with its SEND White Paper and the pitfalls ahead. It provides a case study into how difficult it is to change any area of policy that affects many lives. (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/send-help
My new book - a collection of essays on strategists and strategy - is being published by OUP next week. Here is the intro to whet your appetite with a link at the end for subscribers to get a signed copy. (£/free trial), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...?
"We must look past the drones, algorithms and other technological artefacts for the essential lesson from this war...Ukraine has shown us what humans, as flawed as we are, can achieve in their finest hour. This is the essential lesson from 1461 days of war." www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
You can catch @britishacademy.bsky.social Fellow @ldfreedman.bsky.social on Start the Week (catch up link below) in conversation with @adamrutherford.bsky.social previewing his upcoming book on strategy which is out on 2nd March
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
My new book - a collection of essays on strategists and strategy - is being published by OUP next week. Here is the intro to whet your appetite with a link at the end for subscribers to get a signed copy. (£/free trial), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...?
Two issues linked by @samfr.bsky.social in his latest post - the tendency of politicians to assume that the problem is ‘comms’ rather than content, and the general challenge of getting ‘comms’ right when the media environment has become so fragmented. (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/the-signal...
The usual very clear exposition from @ldfreedman.bsky.social Good news for Ukraine, but food for thought for any armed forces depending on a single commercial supplier for a critical capability, if that supplier is itself subject to the whim of one man.
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/l...
My latest post looks at how Russian forces came to lose access to Starlink and Telegram, why they lacked reliable satellite communications of their own, and the operational impact, including on the current counter-offensive. (£/free trial), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/l...?
Fascinated by this. Follows the excellent article in the @samfr.bsky.social / @ldfreedman.bsky.social substack. Have thoughtful abundance-minded folk like @jamesomalley.co.uk written/said anything on this yet? Feels right up their street.
My latest post looks at how Russian forces came to lose access to Starlink and Telegram, why they lacked reliable satellite communications of their own, and the operational impact, including on the current counter-offensive. (£/free trial), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/l...?
As Ukraine marks the 4th anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, CSIS experts look to the war’s past and future, examining its impacts on Ukraine, Russia, & the world as the conflict continues into a 5th year.
See our analysis: https://www.csis.org/programs/four-years-later-russias-war-ukraine
A cut above everything else you read on planning.
Apparently I need to keep my thoughts to myself …
Guest post today from @dsquareddigest.bsky.social on how to reframe the debate on planning , arguing for sorting out the contentious issues early on in the process to avoid lengthy and costly delays. This one is free. samf.substack.com/p/build-the-...
Answers from @ldfreedman.bsky.social from earlier in the week.
bsky.app/profile/samf...
New post out:
Why are Reform's poll ratings falling?
How worried should be about Palantir?
How long does Starmer have left?
And lots more of your questions...
Topics covered listed below.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/why-have-r...
Thanks to readers for so many questions - more than can be answered in one post. Topics covered include implications of Ukraine being able to counterattack now, why Putin keeps on going, threats to UK, China, arms control, and House of Dynamite (£/free trial), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
No, I still can’t get this out of my head, and I keep trying to grasp the full abyss of this idiocy, unsuccessfully.
Russia spent years, decades "fighting all of NATO," turning America into "radioactive ash" every night on state TV.
I doubt any troops cheered Custer.
Assuming Starmer days as PM are numbered, Sam considers how he might be replaced and by whom, and what if any difference this will make to the way we are governed. (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/after-star...
