Mark Jones
@mark18681918.bsky.social
PhD student @cardiffuni.bsky.social/Prifysgol Caerdyd. Critical historian researching regimental identity, organisational culture & learning processes within the British Army during the Cold War.
https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/research-staff/jonesma19
https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/research-staff/jonesma19
Reposted by Mark Jones
Some information Operation things to consider in relation to Op Resolve.
First, it has been possible to piece together the direction & objectives of the US operations in Caracas from open-sources. Maduro might have been the obvs target but (for me) the interesting thing is how much was still seen.
First, it has been possible to piece together the direction & objectives of the US operations in Caracas from open-sources. Maduro might have been the obvs target but (for me) the interesting thing is how much was still seen.
The US military conducted an operation on Jan 3 to capture President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela. Bellingcat geolocated videos of helicopters involved in the raid, piecing together potential movements of the assault force
January 4, 2026 at 10:39 AM
Some information Operation things to consider in relation to Op Resolve.
First, it has been possible to piece together the direction & objectives of the US operations in Caracas from open-sources. Maduro might have been the obvs target but (for me) the interesting thing is how much was still seen.
First, it has been possible to piece together the direction & objectives of the US operations in Caracas from open-sources. Maduro might have been the obvs target but (for me) the interesting thing is how much was still seen.
This article from @bellingcat.com is worth a read 👇
It is the best evidence based assessment of the Cararcas SOF raid currently available.
It is the best evidence based assessment of the Cararcas SOF raid currently available.
The US military conducted an operation on Jan 3 to capture President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela. Bellingcat geolocated videos of helicopters involved in the raid, piecing together potential movements of the assault force
January 4, 2026 at 9:52 AM
This article from @bellingcat.com is worth a read 👇
It is the best evidence based assessment of the Cararcas SOF raid currently available.
It is the best evidence based assessment of the Cararcas SOF raid currently available.
I was thinking this earlier 😆
Thank God Latin America is Delta’s domain.
Otherwise we’d already have fifteen new SEAL podcasts, sponsorship deals, newly launched protein powders, and a social media catfight about who it was that yoinked Maduro out of bed.
Otherwise we’d already have fifteen new SEAL podcasts, sponsorship deals, newly launched protein powders, and a social media catfight about who it was that yoinked Maduro out of bed.
January 3, 2026 at 10:11 PM
I was thinking this earlier 😆
Reposted by Mark Jones
Your PhD will inspire someone to research.
January 3, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Your PhD will inspire someone to research.
Reposted by Mark Jones
I have a question for all those who have done a PhD. If you weren’t in an academic institution, how did you write your research proposal? I’m struggling with how to access the texts I need #history #historyphd #phd #academicchatter
January 3, 2026 at 6:37 PM
I have a question for all those who have done a PhD. If you weren’t in an academic institution, how did you write your research proposal? I’m struggling with how to access the texts I need #history #historyphd #phd #academicchatter
Reposted by Mark Jones
The value of history in PME is unquestioned, but there is always tension with social and political science. “Only so many course hours in the day…” and such.
For war museums reaching military professionals in their PME, education staff with a background in history, theory, AND doctrine is clutch.
For war museums reaching military professionals in their PME, education staff with a background in history, theory, AND doctrine is clutch.
"Breadth or Depth: The Ongoing Battle in Professional Military Education," by @rdwadle.bsky.social & Heather Venable.
@smh-historians.bsky.social
ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/J...
@smh-historians.bsky.social
ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/J...
ndupress.ndu.edu
January 3, 2026 at 6:39 PM
The value of history in PME is unquestioned, but there is always tension with social and political science. “Only so many course hours in the day…” and such.
For war museums reaching military professionals in their PME, education staff with a background in history, theory, AND doctrine is clutch.
For war museums reaching military professionals in their PME, education staff with a background in history, theory, AND doctrine is clutch.
I think we get the idea Associated Press
January 3, 2026 at 5:08 PM
I think we get the idea Associated Press
He's going to run what now?
January 3, 2026 at 4:45 PM
He's going to run what now?
This is a very good book 👇
Last night's op bears all the hallmarks of a classic Joint Special Operations Command mission. To know more about JSOC, read our own @seandnaylor.bsky.social's "Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command." Amazon Associates link: amzn.to/3N4WUfk (You buy: we get a cut)
Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command
Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command [Naylor, Sean] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command
amzn.to
January 3, 2026 at 4:30 PM
This is a very good book 👇
Reposted by Mark Jones
This all seems pretty unbecoming of a FIFA Peace Prize winner
January 3, 2026 at 2:42 PM
This all seems pretty unbecoming of a FIFA Peace Prize winner
Reposted by Mark Jones
A deluge of work on regime change after the 2003 invasion of Iraq yielded strong (and rare) agreement in IR: it doesn't work & has terrible consequences. @profdownes.bsky.social's book Catastrophic Success lays it out, but it's right there in the title. www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
January 3, 2026 at 1:41 PM
A deluge of work on regime change after the 2003 invasion of Iraq yielded strong (and rare) agreement in IR: it doesn't work & has terrible consequences. @profdownes.bsky.social's book Catastrophic Success lays it out, but it's right there in the title. www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
As more details come out on the Venezuela SOF mission, it becomes increasingly clear that a lot of commentators weren't paying much attention to counterterrorism practice during the #GWOT years.
January 3, 2026 at 3:11 PM
As more details come out on the Venezuela SOF mission, it becomes increasingly clear that a lot of commentators weren't paying much attention to counterterrorism practice during the #GWOT years.
Very excited to hear from all the new South American geopolitics experts.
Maybe we'll get another mega-thread on tyres?
#Venezuela #IR #Skystorians
Maybe we'll get another mega-thread on tyres?
#Venezuela #IR #Skystorians
January 3, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Very excited to hear from all the new South American geopolitics experts.
Maybe we'll get another mega-thread on tyres?
#Venezuela #IR #Skystorians
Maybe we'll get another mega-thread on tyres?
#Venezuela #IR #Skystorians
Reposted by Mark Jones
Delighted to get my hands on Volume 1 of London Pride!
I am excited to delve into the chapters and learn more about the London Territorials.
Of course I am also excited for Volume 2 later this year to see my own contribution in print!
#fwwhist
I am excited to delve into the chapters and learn more about the London Territorials.
Of course I am also excited for Volume 2 later this year to see my own contribution in print!
#fwwhist
January 3, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Delighted to get my hands on Volume 1 of London Pride!
I am excited to delve into the chapters and learn more about the London Territorials.
Of course I am also excited for Volume 2 later this year to see my own contribution in print!
#fwwhist
I am excited to delve into the chapters and learn more about the London Territorials.
Of course I am also excited for Volume 2 later this year to see my own contribution in print!
#fwwhist
Happy New Year #HistBookChat folks!
Taking the opportunity to reduce some of my reading backlog with these two - both have proven very interesting thus far!
Taking the opportunity to reduce some of my reading backlog with these two - both have proven very interesting thus far!
January 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Happy New Year #HistBookChat folks!
Taking the opportunity to reduce some of my reading backlog with these two - both have proven very interesting thus far!
Taking the opportunity to reduce some of my reading backlog with these two - both have proven very interesting thus far!
Introduce yourself with what almost killed you:
Running over a plug block with my office chair and picking up the shattered casing without unplugging the power...
...a very lucky boy to say the least.
Running over a plug block with my office chair and picking up the shattered casing without unplugging the power...
...a very lucky boy to say the least.
Introduce yourself with what almost killed you:
"Hi, I'm...NASA?"
They dropped Skylab onto Western Australia when my family was living in Esperance; sadly I was a toddler and recall none of the fun & my parents found no debris! This only counts as 'almost' killing due to the scale/odds involved 😉
"Hi, I'm...NASA?"
They dropped Skylab onto Western Australia when my family was living in Esperance; sadly I was a toddler and recall none of the fun & my parents found no debris! This only counts as 'almost' killing due to the scale/odds involved 😉
Introduce yourself with what almost killed you:
a French Navy student jet pilot
a French Navy student jet pilot
January 2, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Introduce yourself with what almost killed you:
Running over a plug block with my office chair and picking up the shattered casing without unplugging the power...
...a very lucky boy to say the least.
Running over a plug block with my office chair and picking up the shattered casing without unplugging the power...
...a very lucky boy to say the least.
Reposted by Mark Jones
Interesting piece, but I think it misses some dynamics I set out last April for International Politics Quarterly on how European preparation for a post-American world needs to avoid strategic mistakes from what could be called a conceptual Justinian Trap
ip-quarterly.com/en/why-europ...
ip-quarterly.com/en/why-europ...
Global security trends for 2026 - five things I'll be looking out for markurban.substack.com/p/five-trend...
Five Trends to Watch in 2026
America's ebbing power opens opportunities for challengers
markurban.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Interesting piece, but I think it misses some dynamics I set out last April for International Politics Quarterly on how European preparation for a post-American world needs to avoid strategic mistakes from what could be called a conceptual Justinian Trap
ip-quarterly.com/en/why-europ...
ip-quarterly.com/en/why-europ...
Possibly of interest to @fwwsoc.bsky.social @fwwsjournal.bsky.social @smh-historians.bsky.social @royalhistsoc.org @societyarmy.bsky.social
It's officially alive!
I received my contributor's copy of "London Pride" today (albeit I won't actually 'contribute' until Volume II) and it's a corker!
A huge and much deserved congratulations to @kensingtons.bsky.social, Rich and Charles for all their hard work.
#HistBookChat #LondonPride #FWW
I received my contributor's copy of "London Pride" today (albeit I won't actually 'contribute' until Volume II) and it's a corker!
A huge and much deserved congratulations to @kensingtons.bsky.social, Rich and Charles for all their hard work.
#HistBookChat #LondonPride #FWW
December 30, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Possibly of interest to @fwwsoc.bsky.social @fwwsjournal.bsky.social @smh-historians.bsky.social @royalhistsoc.org @societyarmy.bsky.social
It's officially alive!
I received my contributor's copy of "London Pride" today (albeit I won't actually 'contribute' until Volume II) and it's a corker!
A huge and much deserved congratulations to @kensingtons.bsky.social, Rich and Charles for all their hard work.
#HistBookChat #LondonPride #FWW
I received my contributor's copy of "London Pride" today (albeit I won't actually 'contribute' until Volume II) and it's a corker!
A huge and much deserved congratulations to @kensingtons.bsky.social, Rich and Charles for all their hard work.
#HistBookChat #LondonPride #FWW
December 30, 2025 at 12:35 PM
It's officially alive!
I received my contributor's copy of "London Pride" today (albeit I won't actually 'contribute' until Volume II) and it's a corker!
A huge and much deserved congratulations to @kensingtons.bsky.social, Rich and Charles for all their hard work.
#HistBookChat #LondonPride #FWW
I received my contributor's copy of "London Pride" today (albeit I won't actually 'contribute' until Volume II) and it's a corker!
A huge and much deserved congratulations to @kensingtons.bsky.social, Rich and Charles for all their hard work.
#HistBookChat #LondonPride #FWW
Reposted by Mark Jones
New article, North Korea’s red submarine -> www.hisutton.com/DPRK-SSN-Upd...
I think 8, possibly 9-10 missiles in a single row in the fin (sail)
I think 8, possibly 9-10 missiles in a single row in the fin (sail)
December 30, 2025 at 8:35 AM
New article, North Korea’s red submarine -> www.hisutton.com/DPRK-SSN-Upd...
I think 8, possibly 9-10 missiles in a single row in the fin (sail)
I think 8, possibly 9-10 missiles in a single row in the fin (sail)
Stood next to Brian O'Driscoll in the Ryanair queue at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Thought he looked familiar, but only realised when the Ryanair staff on the check-in desk theatrically bowed when presented with his passport.
Thought he looked familiar, but only realised when the Ryanair staff on the check-in desk theatrically bowed when presented with his passport.
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
December 29, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Stood next to Brian O'Driscoll in the Ryanair queue at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Thought he looked familiar, but only realised when the Ryanair staff on the check-in desk theatrically bowed when presented with his passport.
Thought he looked familiar, but only realised when the Ryanair staff on the check-in desk theatrically bowed when presented with his passport.
Reposted by Mark Jones
Hurry a new episode of Cold War Conversations is out! coldwarconversations.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Hurry a new episode of Cold War Conversations is out! coldwarconversations.com
Reposted by Mark Jones
I also love books and often buy books that I don’t read right away. I always end up feeling a bit guilty.
Umberto Eco, who owned 50,000 books, had this to say about home libraries:
Umberto Eco, who owned 50,000 books, had this to say about home libraries:
December 26, 2025 at 8:41 PM
I also love books and often buy books that I don’t read right away. I always end up feeling a bit guilty.
Umberto Eco, who owned 50,000 books, had this to say about home libraries:
Umberto Eco, who owned 50,000 books, had this to say about home libraries:
December 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM