Matthew Redhead
@matthewrr.bsky.social
National & financial security. Former UK civil servant and financial intelligence professional. Senior Associate Fellow @rusi.bsky.social CFS. Loves ideas, cult fiction, anomalous stuff and landscapes.
Views own.
Views own.
Pinned
Matthew Redhead
@matthewrr.bsky.social
· Sep 12
“People sometimes tell me that they prefer barbarism to civilisation. I doubt if they have given it a long enough trial…they are bored by civilisation; but all the evidence suggests that the boredom of barbarism is infinitely greater.”
Kenneth Clark, ‘Civilisation’.
Kenneth Clark, ‘Civilisation’.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Repeat after me: “There is ho genuine Russian effort to negotiate.” Trump and his ilk are just idiots or complicit (likely both).
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Russia says Ukraine tried to attack Putin's residence but Kyiv says Moscow is lying
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Ukraine had tried to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia and so Moscow's negotiating position would be reviewed, b...
www.reuters.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Repeat after me: “There is ho genuine Russian effort to negotiate.” Trump and his ilk are just idiots or complicit (likely both).
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Why do so many people think that giving Putin Donbas will satiate his imperial ambitions in Ukraine? Remember, in February 2022, Putin sent his tanks to Kyiv, not Donetsk.
December 29, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Why do so many people think that giving Putin Donbas will satiate his imperial ambitions in Ukraine? Remember, in February 2022, Putin sent his tanks to Kyiv, not Donetsk.
I was interviewed a few months ago and was asked what I thought Iran would do about the development of its nuclear programme. My view then - and now - is that Iran is probably pursuing some of the most sensitive aspects on Russian soil to insulate it from US and Israeli attack.
Three Iranian satellites launched from Russia, state media says reut.rs/3N25sna
Three Iranian satellites launched from Russia, state media says
Three more Iranian satellites were sent into space on Russia's Soyuz launchers on Sunday, Iranian state media said, as the two U.S.-sanctioned nations extend their space collaboration.
reut.rs
December 28, 2025 at 2:21 PM
I was interviewed a few months ago and was asked what I thought Iran would do about the development of its nuclear programme. My view then - and now - is that Iran is probably pursuing some of the most sensitive aspects on Russian soil to insulate it from US and Israeli attack.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Some people take the "negotiations" seriously. One wonder how people develop such an enormous capacity at self deception?
December 28, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Some people take the "negotiations" seriously. One wonder how people develop such an enormous capacity at self deception?
Ah, is that the EU that launched an unprovoked military attack against its neighbour in February 2022? Oh no, that was Russia, wasn’t it, Lavvy, baby?
The European Union is “the main obstacle to peace” in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today ahead of a fresh round of peace talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.
EU is ‘main obstacle to peace’ in Ukraine, says Russia’s foreign minister
Sergey Lavrov’s comments come as Ukraine’s Zelenskyy heads to talks with Donald Trump in Florida.
www.politico.eu
December 28, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Ah, is that the EU that launched an unprovoked military attack against its neighbour in February 2022? Oh no, that was Russia, wasn’t it, Lavvy, baby?
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Let's hope it's not a happy new year for Farage.
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
‘Of course he abused pupils’: ex-Dulwich teacher speaks out about Farage racism claims
Exclusive: Chloë Deakin tells how she wrote to Dulwich college master to argue against Farage’s nomination as prefect
www.theguardian.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Let's hope it's not a happy new year for Farage.
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Many of the telecoms and infrastructure projects in the Baltic Sea were thought up when the threat from Russia seemed abstract. Now Germany, Denmark and others are scrambling to protect them—a tough challenge
The Baltic is becoming a battleground between NATO and Russia
Poland, Sweden and others are buying subs to protect pipelines
econ.st
December 28, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Many of the telecoms and infrastructure projects in the Baltic Sea were thought up when the threat from Russia seemed abstract. Now Germany, Denmark and others are scrambling to protect them—a tough challenge
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
A very classic terrorist financing scheme disrupted in Italy, where money was raised for the civilian population in Garza but was diverted to Hamas.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Nine arrested in Italy for allegedly raising millions for Hamas
Police say the suspects raised around €7m (£6m) for the militant group over more than two years.
www.bbc.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:34 PM
A very classic terrorist financing scheme disrupted in Italy, where money was raised for the civilian population in Garza but was diverted to Hamas.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
When Trump leaves office, we can crowbar his name off everything and throw it all into a big, raging fire. Call it “The Bonfire of the Vanities.”
December 27, 2025 at 9:17 PM
When Trump leaves office, we can crowbar his name off everything and throw it all into a big, raging fire. Call it “The Bonfire of the Vanities.”
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
👀
It’s interesting how the risk awareness that dependence on US systems - be it in digital services, defence, or payment methods - has been internalised fairly quickly in Europe.
National Bank of Sweden chief says Sweden is too dependent on MasterCard and Visa and needs non-American alternatives
National Bank of Sweden chief says Sweden is too dependent on MasterCard and Visa and needs non-American alternatives
Riksbankschef Erik Thedéen: Sverige för beroende av amerikanska kreditkortsföretag - Ekot
Riksbankschef Erik Thedéen anser att Sveriges betalsystem är för beroende av amerikanska kreditkortsföretag som Mastercard och Visa.I nuläget tycker Erik ...
www.sverigesradio.se
December 27, 2025 at 9:13 PM
👀
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
No. I do not have a favourite roundabout in Basingstoke. #QTWTAIN #BetteridgesLaw
December 27, 2025 at 9:14 PM
No. I do not have a favourite roundabout in Basingstoke. #QTWTAIN #BetteridgesLaw
I’m watching my favourite Christmas movie: “Eyes Wide Shut”.
December 27, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I’m watching my favourite Christmas movie: “Eyes Wide Shut”.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
It was a pleasure to review Jeffrey Rogg's book "The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence" for @lawfaremedia.org. There is much in it to chew on and debate and the topic, civil-intelligence relations, is of great and growing importance. #intelligence #intelhist
U.S. Intelligence Agencies Have Not Aged Well
A review of Jeffrey P. Rogg, “The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence” (Oxford University Press, 2025).
www.lawfaremedia.org
December 27, 2025 at 8:11 PM
It was a pleasure to review Jeffrey Rogg's book "The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence" for @lawfaremedia.org. There is much in it to chew on and debate and the topic, civil-intelligence relations, is of great and growing importance. #intelligence #intelhist
Bringing this energy into 2026.
December 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Bringing this energy into 2026.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Denmark lost more troops per capita in the post 9/11 war on Afghanistan. Saying they “are not a good ally” because they won’t surrender their territories to the US is lunacy. We are betraying our allies to satisfy the whims of a would-be Emperor for whom the US is not enough.
They’re again advocating against Denmark when it comes to Greenland
December 27, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Denmark lost more troops per capita in the post 9/11 war on Afghanistan. Saying they “are not a good ally” because they won’t surrender their territories to the US is lunacy. We are betraying our allies to satisfy the whims of a would-be Emperor for whom the US is not enough.
A big shout out and thank you to the Christmas TV schedulers of the UK, who’ve put out such a load of bilge this year that I’ve talked to family and friends and read books at a scale I would have never imagined.
December 27, 2025 at 7:38 PM
A big shout out and thank you to the Christmas TV schedulers of the UK, who’ve put out such a load of bilge this year that I’ve talked to family and friends and read books at a scale I would have never imagined.
How I’m walking out of 2025.
December 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
How I’m walking out of 2025.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Oh my goodness - this has to be prophetic for 2026...
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Oh my goodness - this has to be prophetic for 2026...
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Gotta confess I have never seen Avatar, know nothing about it, have no intention of watching it or learning anything about it and I feel fine.
December 27, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Gotta confess I have never seen Avatar, know nothing about it, have no intention of watching it or learning anything about it and I feel fine.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
❤️❤️❤️HUGE CONGRATS!!!❤️❤️❤️
December 27, 2025 at 11:33 AM
❤️❤️❤️HUGE CONGRATS!!!❤️❤️❤️
Even before you come to the moral debate, the possibility of making a mistake is a pretty decisive objection to me. But then again, I have heard some argue that the death of innocents is a price worth paying to “deter” others. What a world.
-Alright Chris. You’ve been out of the public eye for ages. No one under forty really knows who you are. It’s a soft-soap interview in the Telegraph during Christmas, keep it light and irreverent and you’ll be fi-
-BRING BACK HANGING
-BRING BACK HANGING
December 27, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Even before you come to the moral debate, the possibility of making a mistake is a pretty decisive objection to me. But then again, I have heard some argue that the death of innocents is a price worth paying to “deter” others. What a world.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Rationality is a collective endevour. www.volts.wtf/p/the-cure-f...
The cure for misinformation is not more information or smarter news consumers
Political scientist Samuel Bagg explains why social identity is at the root of the misinformation crisis -- which calls for something deeper than factchecking.
www.volts.wtf
December 27, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Rationality is a collective endevour. www.volts.wtf/p/the-cure-f...
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
www.reuters.com/business/med...
Its a sad state of affairs when even the Swiss are doubting their ability to maintain active neutrality. Clearly, its not just the EU and Britain that needs to get its shit together.
Its a sad state of affairs when even the Swiss are doubting their ability to maintain active neutrality. Clearly, its not just the EU and Britain that needs to get its shit together.
Army chief says Switzerland can't defend itself from full-scale attack
Switzerland cannot defend itself against a full-scale attack and must boost military spending given rising risks from Russia, the head of its armed forces said.
www.reuters.com
December 27, 2025 at 10:57 AM
www.reuters.com/business/med...
Its a sad state of affairs when even the Swiss are doubting their ability to maintain active neutrality. Clearly, its not just the EU and Britain that needs to get its shit together.
Its a sad state of affairs when even the Swiss are doubting their ability to maintain active neutrality. Clearly, its not just the EU and Britain that needs to get its shit together.
We need to call this out for what it is. Hostile activity.
I’m not technically savvy, so I don’t understand why we can’t bring these things down.
I’m not technically savvy, so I don’t understand why we can’t bring these things down.
Europe is waking up to significant vulnerabilities to its military and civilian #nuclear sites, and #Russia is widely suspected to be behind the activity.
www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
Europe’s nuclear sites on high alert for drone threats in the year ahead | The National
Western countries scramble to bring in new defences as experts see rise of autonomous threats everywhere
www.thenationalnews.com
December 27, 2025 at 10:01 AM
We need to call this out for what it is. Hostile activity.
I’m not technically savvy, so I don’t understand why we can’t bring these things down.
I’m not technically savvy, so I don’t understand why we can’t bring these things down.