Eugene Finkel
@efinkel.bsky.social
Professor, Johns Hopkins SAIS. Study horrible things that happen to OK people, write books, overuse sarcasm. Lviv-Haifa-Jerusalem-Madison-New Haven-Washington-Bologna.
Fox News, bless their hearts, decided to blur the face of the IDF's only serving Lt. General (aka the Chief of the General Staff) while leaving the shoulder rank as is. Great job, they are currently clean on opsec.
Here is the piece, btw: www.foxnews.com/world/thousa...
Here is the piece, btw: www.foxnews.com/world/thousa...
October 11, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Fox News, bless their hearts, decided to blur the face of the IDF's only serving Lt. General (aka the Chief of the General Staff) while leaving the shoulder rank as is. Great job, they are currently clean on opsec.
Here is the piece, btw: www.foxnews.com/world/thousa...
Here is the piece, btw: www.foxnews.com/world/thousa...
As we all know since January 2022:
July 15, 2025 at 9:42 PM
As we all know since January 2022:
Someone ought to remind the new leader of Hamas that Chechen resistance ended with Chechnya being destroyed and subjugated, ex-rebels becoming Putin's henchmen and Chechen soldiers fighting for Russia. The case for minimal historical literacy has never been stronger
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/w...
July 4, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Someone ought to remind the new leader of Hamas that Chechen resistance ended with Chechnya being destroyed and subjugated, ex-rebels becoming Putin's henchmen and Chechen soldiers fighting for Russia. The case for minimal historical literacy has never been stronger
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/w...
Meanwhile in the archives. Make of it what you will. They fought fascists. They lost
June 24, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Meanwhile in the archives. Make of it what you will. They fought fascists. They lost
Spending my morning reading the correspondence between US diplomats in Ethiopia, Washington, and the Ethiopian government trying to figure out who the hell was this fellow who apparently raised quite a bit of money during the Italian invasion, presumably for Ethiopia's defense. What a life, right
June 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Spending my morning reading the correspondence between US diplomats in Ethiopia, Washington, and the Ethiopian government trying to figure out who the hell was this fellow who apparently raised quite a bit of money during the Italian invasion, presumably for Ethiopia's defense. What a life, right
Fighting fake news, Ethiopia style.
June 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Fighting fake news, Ethiopia style.
Who knew that "a bristling armory" of revolvers and sawed-offs is among the things the US Treasury procurement folks used to have. Archives are fun
June 16, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Who knew that "a bristling armory" of revolvers and sawed-offs is among the things the US Treasury procurement folks used to have. Archives are fun
Where is the Deep State when we need it, where indeed?
March 19, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Where is the Deep State when we need it, where indeed?
Does 47% with the +/- 3.1% margin of error count as thunderous applause?
March 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Does 47% with the +/- 3.1% margin of error count as thunderous applause?
I finally understand what the last week reminds me of. A much bloodier and cynical replay of 1994, when Russia and US teamed up to force Ukraine to sign the Budapest Memorandum while ignoring its request for guarantees. But if in 1994 the US had the excuse of being naive, now it is pure malice.
March 7, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I finally understand what the last week reminds me of. A much bloodier and cynical replay of 1994, when Russia and US teamed up to force Ukraine to sign the Budapest Memorandum while ignoring its request for guarantees. But if in 1994 the US had the excuse of being naive, now it is pure malice.
Happy Free Borsht Day to all who celebrate!
March 5, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Happy Free Borsht Day to all who celebrate!
Remember, kids, responsible statecraft is to negotiate other people's lives behind their backs because these crazy people and their unreasonable demands might spoil your responsible statecraft
December 16, 2024 at 6:03 PM
Remember, kids, responsible statecraft is to negotiate other people's lives behind their backs because these crazy people and their unreasonable demands might spoil your responsible statecraft
Italian art exhibition curators learning political geography the hard way. Yes, the covered word is "Russia". What is amazing is that it is a recent exhibition, opened only this past fall in a major university city
December 7, 2024 at 6:51 PM
Italian art exhibition curators learning political geography the hard way. Yes, the covered word is "Russia". What is amazing is that it is a recent exhibition, opened only this past fall in a major university city
I went on CNN last week. You can easily notice three copies of the book in the background
November 23, 2024 at 5:09 PM
I went on CNN last week. You can easily notice three copies of the book in the background
Just a reminder from my previous book, in case history rhymes
November 21, 2024 at 9:39 PM
Just a reminder from my previous book, in case history rhymes
Will be talking about Intent to Destroy at the London School of Economics on Tuesday. If you are around and interested, please do come, it's open to the public
November 16, 2024 at 10:50 AM
Will be talking about Intent to Destroy at the London School of Economics on Tuesday. If you are around and interested, please do come, it's open to the public
These two citiations, from the scientific background to today's econ Nobel Prize announcement is likely the closest I will ever get to a Nobel in any field or discipline
October 14, 2024 at 6:44 PM
These two citiations, from the scientific background to today's econ Nobel Prize announcement is likely the closest I will ever get to a Nobel in any field or discipline
I am going to frame this. The funny thing is that I haven't taken even a single history class in my entire life. Not in undergrad, not in MA and not during the doctorate. Like, never.
September 26, 2024 at 9:28 AM
I am going to frame this. The funny thing is that I haven't taken even a single history class in my entire life. Not in undergrad, not in MA and not during the doctorate. Like, never.
A strategic military object de-militarized and de-Nazified by Russia last night in Lviv. My school. Somehow, when you know the place, it hurts differently. Not more, just differently
September 5, 2024 at 9:11 AM
A strategic military object de-militarized and de-Nazified by Russia last night in Lviv. My school. Somehow, when you know the place, it hurts differently. Not more, just differently
One day I will stop writing books with macabre covers, but alas, it is not this day.
The design teams at Basic Books US and Basic Books UK are absolute pros, however, and I don't know which cover better conveys the story I tell.
The design teams at Basic Books US and Basic Books UK are absolute pros, however, and I don't know which cover better conveys the story I tell.
August 27, 2024 at 2:30 PM
One day I will stop writing books with macabre covers, but alas, it is not this day.
The design teams at Basic Books US and Basic Books UK are absolute pros, however, and I don't know which cover better conveys the story I tell.
The design teams at Basic Books US and Basic Books UK are absolute pros, however, and I don't know which cover better conveys the story I tell.
Some people just can't stop digging
August 16, 2024 at 9:21 AM
Some people just can't stop digging
My reading list. History books are getting insanely longer and longer. This is why it is a problem for Joe Biden...
April 22, 2024 at 12:53 PM
My reading list. History books are getting insanely longer and longer. This is why it is a problem for Joe Biden...