Nathaniel Powell
@natkpowell.bsky.social
Historian--France, Africa, etc. Honorary Researcher Lancaster University CWD, West Africa Analyst, Oxford Analytica. Author of "France's Wars in Chad" https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/frances-wars-in-chad/6B7D8F9C8A81E0A83028C24EA0CF8D28
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
this is your mission. our pedophile president needs you to jump out of a helicopter to kidnap a head of state and his wife so some oil ceos can make a lot of money. we’ll be watching from a resort in florida that still serves wedge salad and checking how many retweets we get. good luck soldier
January 3, 2026 at 10:57 PM
this is your mission. our pedophile president needs you to jump out of a helicopter to kidnap a head of state and his wife so some oil ceos can make a lot of money. we’ll be watching from a resort in florida that still serves wedge salad and checking how many retweets we get. good luck soldier
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
IS Tendency statement on Venezuela internationalsocialists.org/announcement...
Ist Statement On Venezuela
<figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="https://internationalsocialists.org/storage/images/fZmIDzdCzANpT5VG5XR4fKGcheByfopgMJKEtjZs.jpg"><figcaption>President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro. Pho...
internationalsocialists.org
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 PM
IS Tendency statement on Venezuela internationalsocialists.org/announcement...
Found my old pog collection. Some pretty sick slammers in there. Rocking the holiday season like it's 1994.
December 29, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Found my old pog collection. Some pretty sick slammers in there. Rocking the holiday season like it's 1994.
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
A few excerpts from Darmok's Christmas Story:
Ralphie and Flick, at the flagpole.
Randy, his arms down.
The Old Man, when the lamp broke.
Santa and Ralphie, on the mountain.
Ralphie and Flick, at the flagpole.
Randy, his arms down.
The Old Man, when the lamp broke.
Santa and Ralphie, on the mountain.
December 25, 2025 at 9:51 PM
A few excerpts from Darmok's Christmas Story:
Ralphie and Flick, at the flagpole.
Randy, his arms down.
The Old Man, when the lamp broke.
Santa and Ralphie, on the mountain.
Ralphie and Flick, at the flagpole.
Randy, his arms down.
The Old Man, when the lamp broke.
Santa and Ralphie, on the mountain.
This is all about militarist aesthetics and nothing to do with actually countering these groups. One can only hope that the Nigerian government can manage US posturing in a way that limits potential negative consequences.
So Nigeria has significant strike capabilities themselves. Their Air Force is robust and they have a solid up to date drone fleet. There is nothing we can bring to bear *from the Gulf of Guinea* that would have more effect than what they’ve been doing for the last fifteen years.
I could be wrong, but I think a few US air strikes in Nigeria (a country of 237 million people that’s 30% larger than Texas) won’t change the situation on the ground at all. It could possibly make things worse.
December 26, 2025 at 1:56 AM
This is all about militarist aesthetics and nothing to do with actually countering these groups. One can only hope that the Nigerian government can manage US posturing in a way that limits potential negative consequences.
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
One of the earliest-ever modern portrayals of Santa Claus features him gifting Union soldiers with a jumping-jack doll of Jefferson Davis dangling from a noose - as drawn by political cartoonist Thomas Nast.
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
![HARPERS WEEKLY.
JOURNAL OF CIVILIZATION
Vor. VII.-No. 314.]
NEW
YORK, SATURDAY, JANUARY
1863.
GELCOM
SANTA CLAUS
SANTA CLAUS IN CAMP.-[SEE PAGE 6]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qiknc4t5rq7yngvz7g4aezq7/bafkreiez4d5lsrpbn3mrwkwrnbrhb3ra7dmvagbxjaz7hg5be7njnsbary@jpeg)
December 25, 2025 at 6:09 AM
One of the earliest-ever modern portrayals of Santa Claus features him gifting Union soldiers with a jumping-jack doll of Jefferson Davis dangling from a noose - as drawn by political cartoonist Thomas Nast.
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
O holy night
December 25, 2025 at 1:11 AM
O holy night
This 100%. I'm military history- adjacent, and it has definitely hurt me on the job market. But it has nothing to do with "woke" hiring practices and much to do with disciplinary biases. The academy still disproportionately hires white males.
I've seen some responses to this dismissing the idea that doing Roman military history could be a disadvantage in the job market because it is so popular with the public.
There absolutely is a hiring bias against military history in the field, but it has nothing to do with being white or male.
There absolutely is a hiring bias against military history in the field, but it has nothing to do with being white or male.
This is 100% incorrect as the explanation for why someone obsessed with Roman *military* history is not being hired.
December 17, 2025 at 7:07 PM
This 100%. I'm military history- adjacent, and it has definitely hurt me on the job market. But it has nothing to do with "woke" hiring practices and much to do with disciplinary biases. The academy still disproportionately hires white males.
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
Today, the brilliant Sebastian Seibt has written a news story about #OperationWrathofGod for France24. An excellent summary and I am very glad to see that research for my book reaches a French-speaking audience: www.france24.com/fr/europe/20...
Opération Colère de Dieu : quand les espions européens ont aidé le Mossad à tuer
Des archives jusque-là confidentielles dévoilent la face cachée de l’opération Colère de Dieu, la campagne d’assassinats du Mossad qui a suivi la prise d'otages des Jeux olympiques de Munich en 1972.…
www.france24.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Today, the brilliant Sebastian Seibt has written a news story about #OperationWrathofGod for France24. An excellent summary and I am very glad to see that research for my book reaches a French-speaking audience: www.france24.com/fr/europe/20...
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
If you want to know why Pete Hegseth is confident he'll face no consequences for blatant war crimes, just look at the list of people who attended Dick Cheney's funeral.
November 29, 2025 at 11:03 PM
If you want to know why Pete Hegseth is confident he'll face no consequences for blatant war crimes, just look at the list of people who attended Dick Cheney's funeral.
Looks like Macron is on one of his dictator tours again. Next stop Washington?
rfi.my/CCzK
rfi.my/CCzK
Emmanuel Macron au Gabon, première visite depuis l'arrivée au pouvoir de Brice Oligui Nguema
Le président français Emmanuel Macron a entamé dimanche 23 novembre une visite d'État au Gabon visant à « renforcer et renouveler » le partenariat bilatéral, deux ans après la fin de l'ère Bongo. C'es...
rfi.my
November 23, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Looks like Macron is on one of his dictator tours again. Next stop Washington?
rfi.my/CCzK
rfi.my/CCzK
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
The colleagues at @africasacountry.bsky.social have republished my article on the rise of the military class now steering politics in several African countries — with Madagascar the latest example — and what is driving this problem.
africasacountry.com/2025/11/the-...
africasacountry.com/2025/11/the-...
The coup kids are in charge now
Across the continent’s new coup belt, young officers are stepping into power, casting themselves as guardians against corrupt civilian elites.
africasacountry.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The colleagues at @africasacountry.bsky.social have republished my article on the rise of the military class now steering politics in several African countries — with Madagascar the latest example — and what is driving this problem.
africasacountry.com/2025/11/the-...
africasacountry.com/2025/11/the-...
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
I joined Alex Thurston and @natkpowell.bsky.social for a conversation about how the end of the Cold War played out across the Sahel and Horn of Africa regions.
We also looked at the characters from that era and the legacies of their rule today. Check it out 👇
We also looked at the characters from that era and the legacies of their rule today. Check it out 👇
@faisalahali.bsky.social, Alex Thurston, and I have done a podcast episode on the end of the Cold War in West and East Africa. The discussion is wide-ranging, covering a variety of experiences of the late 1980s/early 1990s, and their legacies. Have a listen! alexthurston.substack.com/cp/179131463
Podcast Episode: The End of the Cold War from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa
I talk with Faisal Ali and Nathaniel Powell about a pivotal period in African history.
alexthurston.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I joined Alex Thurston and @natkpowell.bsky.social for a conversation about how the end of the Cold War played out across the Sahel and Horn of Africa regions.
We also looked at the characters from that era and the legacies of their rule today. Check it out 👇
We also looked at the characters from that era and the legacies of their rule today. Check it out 👇
@faisalahali.bsky.social, Alex Thurston, and I have done a podcast episode on the end of the Cold War in West and East Africa. The discussion is wide-ranging, covering a variety of experiences of the late 1980s/early 1990s, and their legacies. Have a listen! alexthurston.substack.com/cp/179131463
Podcast Episode: The End of the Cold War from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa
I talk with Faisal Ali and Nathaniel Powell about a pivotal period in African history.
alexthurston.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
@faisalahali.bsky.social, Alex Thurston, and I have done a podcast episode on the end of the Cold War in West and East Africa. The discussion is wide-ranging, covering a variety of experiences of the late 1980s/early 1990s, and their legacies. Have a listen! alexthurston.substack.com/cp/179131463
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
This is going to go down as the dumbest war in the Western Hemisphere since Napoleon III decided that only a Habsburg princeling could save Mexico
November 13, 2025 at 11:01 PM
This is going to go down as the dumbest war in the Western Hemisphere since Napoleon III decided that only a Habsburg princeling could save Mexico
You know you're old when you remember watching Vladimir Guerrero Jr's dad play in the minors....
November 2, 2025 at 1:38 AM
You know you're old when you remember watching Vladimir Guerrero Jr's dad play in the minors....
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
Old: The US might illegally attack Venezuela.
New: The US might illegally attack Nigeria.
New: The US might illegally attack Nigeria.
November 1, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Old: The US might illegally attack Venezuela.
New: The US might illegally attack Nigeria.
New: The US might illegally attack Nigeria.
This is the worst kind of sensationalist narrative. It plays into hands of both jihadists and the junta. There's no evidence for it. Yes the security situation is getting far worse, and Bamako is facing growin gstrains, but JNIM is not on the brink of "taking over" Mali. www.wsj.com/world/africa...
Al Qaeda Is on the Brink of Taking Over a Country
If the jihadists succeed in taking Mali, it would become the first country run by the group. The U.S. has warned its citizens to leave the West African nation immediately.
www.wsj.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:07 PM
This is the worst kind of sensationalist narrative. It plays into hands of both jihadists and the junta. There's no evidence for it. Yes the security situation is getting far worse, and Bamako is facing growin gstrains, but JNIM is not on the brink of "taking over" Mali. www.wsj.com/world/africa...
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
there'd definitely problems with using military/war framings for electoral politics, but one thing it is good at is helping people keep is and ought separate. "The enemy has a strategic advantage that we must fight around" is rarely interpreted as "The enemy is correct and we should lose".
October 28, 2025 at 8:12 PM
there'd definitely problems with using military/war framings for electoral politics, but one thing it is good at is helping people keep is and ought separate. "The enemy has a strategic advantage that we must fight around" is rarely interpreted as "The enemy is correct and we should lose".
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
Militarizing Marriage is now OpenAccess!
Thanks to Ohio University Press (with the generous support of a Mini-Grant from RSP at WWU) for facilitating the process.
Now you can access tirailleurs sénégalais' conjugal relationships across French Empire at the speed of a download.
Thanks to Ohio University Press (with the generous support of a Mini-Grant from RSP at WWU) for facilitating the process.
Now you can access tirailleurs sénégalais' conjugal relationships across French Empire at the speed of a download.
Militarizing Marriage
Following tirailleurs sénégalais’ deployments in West Africa, Congo, Madagascar, North Africa, Syria-Lebanon, Vietnam, and Algeria from the 1880s to 1962...
www.ohioswallow.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Militarizing Marriage is now OpenAccess!
Thanks to Ohio University Press (with the generous support of a Mini-Grant from RSP at WWU) for facilitating the process.
Now you can access tirailleurs sénégalais' conjugal relationships across French Empire at the speed of a download.
Thanks to Ohio University Press (with the generous support of a Mini-Grant from RSP at WWU) for facilitating the process.
Now you can access tirailleurs sénégalais' conjugal relationships across French Empire at the speed of a download.
Looks like fairly credible reports of a serious coup plot foiled in Nigeria. The conventional wisdom has been that coup risks there are lower than rest of region, despite its history. This might have to be revised... www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlin...
How suspected officers allegedly planned to hit top Nigerian officials - Sources
Key officials targeted for assasination include President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, our source ...
www.premiumtimesng.com
October 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Looks like fairly credible reports of a serious coup plot foiled in Nigeria. The conventional wisdom has been that coup risks there are lower than rest of region, despite its history. This might have to be revised... www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlin...
Reposted by Nathaniel Powell
Freikorps Federalists
October 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Freikorps Federalists
I've been covering Madagascar daily for work, and one consistent worry has been that the military or political class would capture the Gen Z movement. This coup wasn't necessary and will solve none of Madagascar's problems. But good riddance Rajoelina. www.jeuneafrique.com/1730939/poli...
Madagascar : des militaires annoncent prendre le pouvoir
Un peu plus tôt dans la journée, l’Assemblée nationale malgache avait voté une motion d’empêchement à l’encontre du président Andry Rajoelina, qui avait tenté de la dissoudre.
www.jeuneafrique.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I've been covering Madagascar daily for work, and one consistent worry has been that the military or political class would capture the Gen Z movement. This coup wasn't necessary and will solve none of Madagascar's problems. But good riddance Rajoelina. www.jeuneafrique.com/1730939/poli...
Jesus Christ. How can you moan about "anti-French sentiment" in Africa when you pull off shit like this.
www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/2...
www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/2...
Crise à Madagascar: le président Andry Rajoelina a été exfiltré par un avion militaire français [Info RFI]
Le président malgache Andry Rajoelina a été exfiltré par un avion militaire français le 12 octobre 2025, est en mesure de confirmer RFI. Un accord avec le président Emmanuel Macron aurait permis cette...
www.rfi.fr
October 13, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Jesus Christ. How can you moan about "anti-French sentiment" in Africa when you pull off shit like this.
www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/2...
www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/2...
They pretend to write, we pretend to grade?
I strongly urge everyone to not just read this warning from @marcwatkins.bsky.social, but heed it, and be vocal and forceful pushing back against using AI to grade student writing. This must be anathema if we're going to have a world where learning means something. substack.com/inbox/post/1...
The Dangers of using AI to Grade
Nobody Learns, Nobody Gains
substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:35 PM
They pretend to write, we pretend to grade?