Rolf Schuttenhelm
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rolfschuttenhelm.bsky.social
Rolf Schuttenhelm
@rolfschuttenhelm.bsky.social
Dutch science writer, specialised in climate, ecology, geosciences and energy - with some additional interests, including geopolitics & supporting Ukraine.
Pinned
My other personal reason to join BlueSky, is a European one. 'Strategic autonomy' is needed per yesterday and requires enormous investments in defense & energy. But the 3rd branche is the info space.

Musk isn't done yet. He'll now try to sabotage European democracies, using Ex. We shouldn't let him
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
Remember that there is a legitimately elected president of Venezuela: Edmundo Gonzalez. He won the election in 2024.
January 3, 2026 at 10:44 AM
In the long list of ignored warnings, this statement by Fiona Hill from 2019(!) deserves our attention (& shame). She explicitly describes Putin's 'Venezuela Swap' with Trump, for Ukraine. Putin's cries for his pall Maduro are as fake as Trump's care for the innocent people of Ukraine (& elsewhere).
January 4, 2026 at 8:17 AM
Excellent headline. Irrespective of what you think of the outcome, the fact that the intervention in Venezuela was illegal should worry everyone as a final illustration that under Xi-Putin-Trump the rules-based world order is over.
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/january-3-...
January 3, 2026, and the End of the Rules-Based Illusion
President Donald Trump’s unilateral seizure of Venezuela’s leader erodes sovereignty norms, accelerating a prewar moment in which Ukraine increasingly resembles Spain on the eve of World War II.
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Greenland: absolutely. But EU should not play victim. We've known for years that a Trump return was a possibility, also how bad that would be. And even after 24/02/22 massive investments in EU defense & autonomy are still lacking (despite all the talk). We've been ignoring warnings and wasting time.
After this, the EU should absolutely proceed on the assumption that Trump meant what he said about Greenland. Nothing is off the table anymore.
January 3, 2026 at 12:49 PM
West-European countries (including 🇳🇱) should ACUTELY copy the societal readiness model of Finland, Sweden and Poland. This is The Number 1 Political Priority for 2026, and numbers 2-10!

Media have huge responsibility here too. Stop drowning debate in bullshit & ask right political questions daily!!
When it comes to civilian war-readiness, the gap between the Nordics, Baltics and Poland and western countries is even starker. Each year Sweden holds a “preparedness week” to focus minds." www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
Europe’s generals are warning people to prepare for war
But western European societies are in denial
www.economist.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
Trump was Epstein's supplier. #EpsteinFiles
December 31, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
"Na een periode als Tweede Kamerlid wil ze praten over Brussel."
U weet wel, 'een periode' bij die partij die Europese samenwerking op elk punt wilde marginaliseren, opt outs bepleitte, de motie-Eerdmans tegen gezamenlijke inzet voor defensie steunde. 'Praten over Brussel', nou dan weet u het wel.
nrc.nl NRC @nrc.nl · 2d
Rosanne Hertzberger is terug als columnist voor NRC. Na een periode als Tweede Kamerlid wil ze praten over Brussel: „Eén van de problemen van Den Haag is dat het theater blijft, maar de besluitvorming steeds vaker elders plaatsvindt.”

buff.ly/G8sVPIo
Column | In de luwte van het Europees Parlement kan veel gebeuren
Ergens zou ik toch een keer een gedegen analyse moeten maken van wat er nu eigenlijk allemaal gebeurd is. Van welke achtbaan ik onderdeel was. Waarom het begon, waarom het eindigde. Feit is dat het…
buff.ly
January 2, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
Russia planning large-scale provocation with casualties to derail peace talks — Ukraine intel
Russia planning large-scale provocation with casualties to derail peace talks — Ukraine intel
Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service reported the information.According to intelligence data, this operation has a comprehensive character. After the "drone attack" on Putin's residence, Russia has intensified the spread of new falsified information narratives to prepare domestic and foreign audiences for further escalation."With high probability, we predict a transition from manipulative influence to an armed provocation by Russian special services with significant human casualties. The expected timeframe is on the eve of or during the celebration of Christmas according to the Julian calendar. A religious structure or another object with high symbolic weight either in Russia or in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine may be selected as the location for the provocation," the statement reads.To falsify evidence of Ukraine's involvement, according to Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, the use of fragments of strike drones of Western manufacture is planned, which may be delivered to the incident site from the line of combat contact.Intelligence emphasized that the use of fear and committing terrorist attacks with human casualties "under a false flag" fully corresponds to the established tactics of Russian special services."Putin's regime has repeatedly applied this tactic inside the Russian Federation, and now this same model is being exported outward, which is indirectly confirmed by public statements of high-ranking officials of the Russian Federation," the intelligence concluded.BackgroundRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that on the night of December 28-29, Ukraine allegedly attacked Vladimir Putin's residence in the Novgorod region with 91 strike drones.On the same day, December 29, U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine.Trump stated that he had heard about the alleged attack by Ukrainian UAVs on the Russian dictator's residence, but at the same time he "knows nothing."The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency stated that Ukraine did not target Russian leader Vladimir Putin or one of his residences as part of possible drone operations.
global.espreso.tv
January 2, 2026 at 9:48 AM
For protests to succeed, you also need teeth. Here's an example: a base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard in the West of Iran has been captured. That would likely include the arms stored.
Iranian protesters have taken control of the IRGC base in Asadabad and have set alight a building on the base.
January 1, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
Those brave people deserve to win. I am with the Iranian protesters.
Protests are spreading across Iran for a fourth day, with demonstrators calling for the end of the Islamic regime and demanding the return of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. A member of the Basij force was killed in Kouhdasht, Lorestan, and confrontations are flaring in Fars, Hamedan, and Tehran.
January 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The ISW @thestudyofwar.bsky.social states Mullah regime wants media to report protests are about "economic grievances" (when in fact they are IDEOLOGICAL) - so of course Dutch national broadcaster @nieuws.nos.nl willingly states protests are about "cost of living"... 🤦‍♂️👇
nos.nl/artikel/2596...
Meerdere doden gemeld in Iran bij aanhoudende protesten
De confrontaties tussen demonstranten en veiligheidsdiensten wijzen op een escalatie van de onrust die zich over het land verspreidt sinds winkeliers in Teheran zondag begonnen te protesteren.
nos.nl
January 1, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
Big protest in Marvdasht, Fars Province, in South West Iran.
Demonstrators chant, "This is the year of blood. Seyed Ali (Khamenei) will be toppled."
January 1, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Anti-regime protests have spread to over 9 Iranian provinces, says ISW. Interesting: ISW states regime is "trying to FRAME the protests as driven by economic grievances" (whereas they are ideological, desire for regime change). Take note, media ☝️
NEW: Protests in Iran have expanded geographically and demographically since December 28, and many of the recent protests adopted an explicitly anti-regime tone. 🧵(1/5)

Iran Update, December 30, 2025: isw.pub/IranUpdate12...
January 1, 2026 at 2:42 PM
There they are again, seemingly out of the blue: the people of Iran. Such a promising country. And an anti-authoritarian win there would currently mean the world... 🤞
THREAD: Verified videos of anti-establishment protests currently unfolding in Iran

Protesters push back police and security forces on Tehran's Jomhouri Street.

Location: maps.app.goo.gl/LKZH6YbnT2WE...

@geoconfirmed.org
January 1, 2026 at 1:55 PM
South Park cowriter Toby Morton anticipated months ago that Trump would at some point try to name the Kennedy Center after himself, which he eventually did, on Dec 18th 🤯 to find out Morton had claimed all domain names.

Ladies & gentlemen, the result is worth your visit:
www.trumpkennedycenter.org
HOME | Trump Kennedy Center
www.trumpkennedycenter.org
December 30, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Sounds like a double win... Well done.
Spanish investigators concluded that a sunken vessel from Russia’s “shadow fleet” was transporting two nuclear reactor vessels to North Korea.
united24media.com/latest-news/...
December 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
Aanvullend 3. Slot: MAGA.

Samenvattend:
Hoogleraar @unileiden.bsky.social
retweet vanochtend een pro-Russisch account. Steunt daarnaast een pro MAGA account en Orbán. Speechte in ‘19 bij opening van een extreemrechtse uitgeverij en komt bij DNW.

En was vandaag gast bij Jort Kelder.
December 27, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Everyone who ever voted for Trump should be utterly ashamed.
December 29, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
The Epstein Files aren't about what Trump *knew*.
The Epstein Files are about what Trump *DID*.

This is an important distinction to remember. We can't let them shift it.
December 26, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
Something smells fishy..

#Ukraine #Russia #USA
December 26, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
Clear case of good (Ukraine) versus evil (Russia)
The war in Ukraine is a rare and striking example of good versus evil.

Few people realize that, although Ukraine has roughly 2-3 times fewer military casualties than Russia, it suffers 20-30 times more civilian casualties.

Russia targets civilians, while Ukraine does not
December 28, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Een goede derde kerstdag ziet er zo uit!

(en fok climate change...)
December 27, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
Lekker woonflats bombarderen en rekenen op linkse academische gekkies en doorgedraaide rechtse presidenten in het Westen om je zaak te bepleiten.
Almost noon in Kyiv, and it's finally all clear. This massive combined 10h air raid was extremely exhausting, with barrages of ballistic and cruise missiles and four waves of drones targeting the energy grid and families in their sleep.
December 27, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
"Oekraïense leiders beschuldigen Moskou van terrorisme", schrijft een grote 🇳🇱 nieuwssite.

Je zou als redactie ook naar de beelden kunnen kijken en zelf die conclusie kunnen trekken:
Kyiv is under attack by russia right now.
Civilian homes are being hit.
World, please don’t stay silent.
December 27, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Reposted by Rolf Schuttenhelm
Christmas attack on civilians in Kyiv. Sure, the Russians want peace
‼️ Movement of missiles and drones during the massive Russian attack on Ukraine
December 27, 2025 at 9:43 AM