Tim Benbow
@timbenbow.bsky.social
Professor of Strategic Studies, King's College London
My research focusses on UK naval strategy and naval history in the Second World War and Cold War.
My research focusses on UK naval strategy and naval history in the Second World War and Cold War.
Reposted by Tim Benbow
I’d be very surprised if this leads to anything at all. Latest effort by Witkoff to bounce administration to bounce Ukraine into a deal they won’t accept.
Seems to be what TASS is saying too...
As if the Kremlin has been taken by surprise by Witkoff's "deal."
Very odd. /1
As if the Kremlin has been taken by surprise by Witkoff's "deal."
Very odd. /1
November 19, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I’d be very surprised if this leads to anything at all. Latest effort by Witkoff to bounce administration to bounce Ukraine into a deal they won’t accept.
Reposted by Tim Benbow
If there is a negotiated deal here somewhere - and I don't think there is - it almost certainly would take the form of land-for-security: Ukraine gets an army and EU membership in exchange for giving up the Donbass to Russia.
But 'land for fuck you, that's what' is not a deal and has never been.
But 'land for fuck you, that's what' is not a deal and has never been.
November 19, 2025 at 4:57 PM
If there is a negotiated deal here somewhere - and I don't think there is - it almost certainly would take the form of land-for-security: Ukraine gets an army and EU membership in exchange for giving up the Donbass to Russia.
But 'land for fuck you, that's what' is not a deal and has never been.
But 'land for fuck you, that's what' is not a deal and has never been.
Reposted by Tim Benbow
What security concerns. Russia illegally invaded a sovereign nation, it occupied parts of a sovereign nation. Tankies scream NATO but conveniently ignore how Ukraine was not in NATO and not likely to be. There are no security concerns, just Russian imperialist aggression.
3/ Dmitriev says that the plan will "address the Ukraine conflict, but also how to restore US-Russia ties [and] address Russia's security concerns."
November 19, 2025 at 8:52 AM
What security concerns. Russia illegally invaded a sovereign nation, it occupied parts of a sovereign nation. Tankies scream NATO but conveniently ignore how Ukraine was not in NATO and not likely to be. There are no security concerns, just Russian imperialist aggression.
Reposted by Tim Benbow
As NATO is so aggressive, we have moved our border guards from where NATO *is* on our Estonian border, and sent them to die in Ukraine, where NATO *is not*
November 16, 2025 at 12:18 PM
As NATO is so aggressive, we have moved our border guards from where NATO *is* on our Estonian border, and sent them to die in Ukraine, where NATO *is not*
Reposted by Tim Benbow
Basically, just because battleships weren't fighting doesn't mean they weren't achieving the purpose of building them. And sure, eventually they came up against a new technology that made them obsolete - but so did the spear.
November 14, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Basically, just because battleships weren't fighting doesn't mean they weren't achieving the purpose of building them. And sure, eventually they came up against a new technology that made them obsolete - but so did the spear.
Reposted by Tim Benbow
We always thought this was just a sock...
November 13, 2025 at 10:42 AM
We always thought this was just a sock...
Reposted by Tim Benbow
if you are named after a Bond baddie, maybe refrain from doing Bond baddie stuff
Drax received logs from cutblocks in BC containing 90% old growth forest, a Canadian investigation found.
So it’s receiving £2m a day in UK green energy subsidies to burn old growth forest 🤔 www.theguardian.com/business/202...
So it’s receiving £2m a day in UK green energy subsidies to burn old growth forest 🤔 www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Drax still burning 250-year-old trees sourced from forests in Canada, experts say
Exclusive: report by Stand.earth says subsidiary of power plant received truckloads of whole logs at biomass pellet sites
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:40 AM
if you are named after a Bond baddie, maybe refrain from doing Bond baddie stuff
Reposted by Tim Benbow
Excerpt from #AdvanceBritannia which is released in the UK on 6 November (Thursday!), preorders appreciated! uk.bookshop.org/p/books/brit...
November 3, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Excerpt from #AdvanceBritannia which is released in the UK on 6 November (Thursday!), preorders appreciated! uk.bookshop.org/p/books/brit...
Reposted by Tim Benbow
I reflect on this grimly: if we are lucky, RFK Jr. will be the cabinet secretary that kills the most Americans by his malice, whereas if we are unlucky, it will be Hegseth who does it by his incompetence.
November 2, 2025 at 7:28 PM
I reflect on this grimly: if we are lucky, RFK Jr. will be the cabinet secretary that kills the most Americans by his malice, whereas if we are unlucky, it will be Hegseth who does it by his incompetence.
Reposted by Tim Benbow
Sultana’s comments are so offensive on so many levels. You can’t “both sides” Putin & Zelenskiy. You can’t speak over the voices of Ukrainian workers who are on the frontlines fighting for democracy & workers rights.
It is Putin and his acolytes who benefit from this war.
It is Putin and his acolytes who benefit from this war.
We take no joy criticising a young left-wing UK political figure who has often spoken up for workers' rights and progressive causes. But these barely coherent comments from Zarah Sultana on Ukraine sum up much of what is wrong with her wing of the left www.instagram.com/reel/DQT62ys...
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October 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Sultana’s comments are so offensive on so many levels. You can’t “both sides” Putin & Zelenskiy. You can’t speak over the voices of Ukrainian workers who are on the frontlines fighting for democracy & workers rights.
It is Putin and his acolytes who benefit from this war.
It is Putin and his acolytes who benefit from this war.
Reposted by Tim Benbow
Russia has no plans to invade:
Moldova..
Ok. But not Georgia
Ok but not Ukraine.
Ok, Just Crimea
Ok, just Crimea & part of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk & Zaporizhzhia
Ok, all of Ukraine
But not NATO…
Moldova..
Ok. But not Georgia
Ok but not Ukraine.
Ok, Just Crimea
Ok, just Crimea & part of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk & Zaporizhzhia
Ok, all of Ukraine
But not NATO…
October 29, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Russia has no plans to invade:
Moldova..
Ok. But not Georgia
Ok but not Ukraine.
Ok, Just Crimea
Ok, just Crimea & part of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk & Zaporizhzhia
Ok, all of Ukraine
But not NATO…
Moldova..
Ok. But not Georgia
Ok but not Ukraine.
Ok, Just Crimea
Ok, just Crimea & part of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk & Zaporizhzhia
Ok, all of Ukraine
But not NATO…
Reposted by Tim Benbow
Notice that he expected, as a constitutional monarch, that the legislature would need to approve his war-making.
Oct. 26, 1775: King George III opens the first session of Parliament to meet since news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord reached Britain. He describes the Revolution in America as a "traitorous usurpation" and calls on lawmakers to assist the crown in suppressing it. 1/4
October 26, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Notice that he expected, as a constitutional monarch, that the legislature would need to approve his war-making.
Reposted by Tim Benbow
Reagan's approach to the world prominently featured two things:
1) Russian aggression bad, Western democratic alliance good
2) Free trade good, tariffs and other barriers to trade bad
Pretending it's the opposite is the sort of reality inversion only someone who rejects truth itself could buy.
1) Russian aggression bad, Western democratic alliance good
2) Free trade good, tariffs and other barriers to trade bad
Pretending it's the opposite is the sort of reality inversion only someone who rejects truth itself could buy.
October 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reagan's approach to the world prominently featured two things:
1) Russian aggression bad, Western democratic alliance good
2) Free trade good, tariffs and other barriers to trade bad
Pretending it's the opposite is the sort of reality inversion only someone who rejects truth itself could buy.
1) Russian aggression bad, Western democratic alliance good
2) Free trade good, tariffs and other barriers to trade bad
Pretending it's the opposite is the sort of reality inversion only someone who rejects truth itself could buy.
Reposted by Tim Benbow
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
October 22, 2025 at 7:55 AM
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
Reposted by Tim Benbow
"Almost half of everything AI assistants tell you is wrong" and "Oxford university gives AI assistants to all its students" are two headlines we are forced to accept as coexisting in this appalling timeline.
The response of UK universities to this is, almost universally, to say "Tch, what can you do?"
Or in some cases, to very overtly decide that the thing to do is join in...
Or in some cases, to very overtly decide that the thing to do is join in...
October 23, 2025 at 8:24 AM
"Almost half of everything AI assistants tell you is wrong" and "Oxford university gives AI assistants to all its students" are two headlines we are forced to accept as coexisting in this appalling timeline.
Reposted by Tim Benbow
AI misrepresents news 45% of the time. Hasn't stopped every major search provider enthusiastically adopting it www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time – regardless of language or territory
An intensive international study was coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and led by the BBC
www.bbc.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM
AI misrepresents news 45% of the time. Hasn't stopped every major search provider enthusiastically adopting it www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
Reposted by Tim Benbow
Did a new one
August 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Did a new one
Reposted by Tim Benbow
If you think that professors exist as repositories of knowledge that students ask for answers, you’re missing the entire point of a college education.
We’re here to teach students how to do research, how to analyze and argue, how to think for themselves — how to find the answers on their own.
We’re here to teach students how to do research, how to analyze and argue, how to think for themselves — how to find the answers on their own.
Wow. Just wow.
"Students pay premium prices for information that AI now delivers instantly and for free. A business student can ask ChatGPT to explain supply chain optimization or generate market analysis in seconds. The traditional lecture-and-test model faces its Blockbuster moment."
"Students pay premium prices for information that AI now delivers instantly and for free. A business student can ask ChatGPT to explain supply chain optimization or generate market analysis in seconds. The traditional lecture-and-test model faces its Blockbuster moment."
When Knowledge is Free, What are Professors For?
Higher Education Must Stop Competing with AI on Information and Start Teaching What Machines Can’t Do
www.forbes.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:45 PM
If you think that professors exist as repositories of knowledge that students ask for answers, you’re missing the entire point of a college education.
We’re here to teach students how to do research, how to analyze and argue, how to think for themselves — how to find the answers on their own.
We’re here to teach students how to do research, how to analyze and argue, how to think for themselves — how to find the answers on their own.
Reposted by Tim Benbow
Hey, hey guys! Guys! They reinvented the textbook! And the library!
Just amazing to see someone tell on themselves so clearly in public that they do not really know what teaching...is?
Just amazing to see someone tell on themselves so clearly in public that they do not really know what teaching...is?
Wow. Just wow.
"Students pay premium prices for information that AI now delivers instantly and for free. A business student can ask ChatGPT to explain supply chain optimization or generate market analysis in seconds. The traditional lecture-and-test model faces its Blockbuster moment."
"Students pay premium prices for information that AI now delivers instantly and for free. A business student can ask ChatGPT to explain supply chain optimization or generate market analysis in seconds. The traditional lecture-and-test model faces its Blockbuster moment."
When Knowledge is Free, What are Professors For?
Higher Education Must Stop Competing with AI on Information and Start Teaching What Machines Can’t Do
www.forbes.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Hey, hey guys! Guys! They reinvented the textbook! And the library!
Just amazing to see someone tell on themselves so clearly in public that they do not really know what teaching...is?
Just amazing to see someone tell on themselves so clearly in public that they do not really know what teaching...is?
Reposted by Tim Benbow
“If Americans had a more clear-eyed view of Putin, they would see a dictator who’s bet everything on a failed invasion, a country losing its sphere of influence, and an economy…cooling. A realistic view of his power would strip Putin of his biggest leverage: the perception of his invincibility.”
Russia’s leader isn’t nearly as strong as he’s made out to be, Andrew Ryvkin writes. “A realistic view of his power would strip Putin of his biggest leverage: the perception of his invincibility”:
Putin Is Not Winning
Underestimating the Russian leader is dangerous, but ascribing dark powers to him plays right into his hands.
bit.ly
October 14, 2025 at 2:47 PM
“If Americans had a more clear-eyed view of Putin, they would see a dictator who’s bet everything on a failed invasion, a country losing its sphere of influence, and an economy…cooling. A realistic view of his power would strip Putin of his biggest leverage: the perception of his invincibility.”
Reposted by Tim Benbow
Interested in the intersection between seapower, climate change, and imperialism? You may enjoy my new article written with Dr. Rob Cullum. Open access in @cspjournal.bsky.social it’s called Oceans Rise, Empires Fall? Reframing Seapower for a Warming World. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Oceans rise, empires fall? Reframing seapower for a warming world
How should seapower be reframed to respond to a warming world? Seapower theory was developed during an era of imperial expansion and competition, primarily to control and protect the extraction and...
www.tandfonline.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Interested in the intersection between seapower, climate change, and imperialism? You may enjoy my new article written with Dr. Rob Cullum. Open access in @cspjournal.bsky.social it’s called Oceans Rise, Empires Fall? Reframing Seapower for a Warming World. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Tim Benbow
It'd be remiss of me not to wish the US navy a very happy birthday, of course - and unlike virtually everybody else I'm going to include a picture of a genuine American warship to do so...
October 13, 2025 at 9:45 PM
It'd be remiss of me not to wish the US navy a very happy birthday, of course - and unlike virtually everybody else I'm going to include a picture of a genuine American warship to do so...
Reposted by Tim Benbow
The grocery industry would be much more profitable if only it didn’t have to pay farmers for supplies
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
The grocery industry would be much more profitable if only it didn’t have to pay farmers for supplies