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’.
Good to see that the BBC has decided that the BBC is still the biggest story around.
November 11, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Good to see that the BBC has decided that the BBC is still the biggest story around.
They’ve been watching ‘Firefox’ again.
Russia says it foiled Ukrainian-British plot to steal a MiG-31 jet, state media reports reut.rs/3WPJaqr
Russia says it foiled Ukrainian-British plot to steal a MiG-31 jet, state media reports
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had foiled a plot by Ukrainian and British spies to tempt Russian pilots to steal a MiG-31 jet armed with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile for $3 million, state media reported on Tuesday.
reut.rs
November 11, 2025 at 6:26 AM
They’ve been watching ‘Firefox’ again.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Got to admire "Mike" who left a 5 star rating for my local garage and whose review reads
"Left my car with them and walked home"
"Left my car with them and walked home"
November 11, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Got to admire "Mike" who left a 5 star rating for my local garage and whose review reads
"Left my car with them and walked home"
"Left my car with them and walked home"
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk: “Putin has tools that can destroy the European Union as an organization, but also Europe as a cultural phenomenon.
“These tools are Russia’s fifth columns, present in every country of Europe.”
“These tools are Russia’s fifth columns, present in every country of Europe.”
November 10, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk: “Putin has tools that can destroy the European Union as an organization, but also Europe as a cultural phenomenon.
“These tools are Russia’s fifth columns, present in every country of Europe.”
“These tools are Russia’s fifth columns, present in every country of Europe.”
Putin reaches his ‘Ever Decreasing Circles’ period.
November 9, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Putin reaches his ‘Ever Decreasing Circles’ period.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Floella Benjamin for DG.
November 9, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Floella Benjamin for DG.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Bet they don’t have any potholes.
New map compiled by archaeologists charts twice as many Roman roads as the standard reference work. Their sources include ancient travel itineraries, 19thC camel routes, Soviet military charts, Ottoman surveys and declassified American spy-satellite images.
www.thetimes.com/article/335a...
www.thetimes.com/article/335a...
Truth of vast network of Roman roads revealed
Using spy-satellite images and ancient travel itineraries, researchers have identified a huge number of forgotten roads, some of them less than straight
www.thetimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Bet they don’t have any potholes.
I’ve just watched ‘A House of Dynamite’. My advice: just read Annie Jacobsen’s ‘Nuclear War’. It’s much better.
November 8, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I’ve just watched ‘A House of Dynamite’. My advice: just read Annie Jacobsen’s ‘Nuclear War’. It’s much better.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Dracula is a tragic figure, a European who doesn't like garlic
November 8, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Dracula is a tragic figure, a European who doesn't like garlic
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
If I've understood this correctly, the idea is for the UK to provide usable forces for two separate coalitions of the willing, at a time when there are already question marks over what it could provide for just one.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
November 7, 2025 at 9:50 AM
If I've understood this correctly, the idea is for the UK to provide usable forces for two separate coalitions of the willing, at a time when there are already question marks over what it could provide for just one.
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
www.politico.eu/article/brit...
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Rosalind Franklin and the damage of gender harassment
Spurred by a recent report on sexual harassment in academia, our columnist revisits a historical case and reflects on what has changed—and what hasn’t
www.science.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Just sent out this piece--maybe the most depressing I have written (sorry). The future of war is emerging in front of our eyes, and its terrifying. It is a combination of ranged fires in mass and a willingness to commit war crimes. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Are War Crimes and Ranged Fires The Future Of War?
Hello All,
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Just sent out this piece--maybe the most depressing I have written (sorry). The future of war is emerging in front of our eyes, and its terrifying. It is a combination of ranged fires in mass and a willingness to commit war crimes. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
China plans to attack Taiwan as early as next year, according to BILD citing Western intelligence agencies. Beijing may begin the occupation of Taiwan as early as November 2026 if internal turmoil starts in the U.S. following the midterm elections.
www.bild.de/politik/ausl...
www.bild.de/politik/ausl...
China könnte schon 2026 in Taiwan einmarschieren – Geheimdienste warnen
Plant China die Invasion Taiwans bereits 2026, falls Trumps USA im Chaos versinken?
www.bild.de
November 7, 2025 at 7:54 PM
China plans to attack Taiwan as early as next year, according to BILD citing Western intelligence agencies. Beijing may begin the occupation of Taiwan as early as November 2026 if internal turmoil starts in the U.S. following the midterm elections.
www.bild.de/politik/ausl...
www.bild.de/politik/ausl...
Hegseth, live from The Black Lodge.
November 7, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Hegseth, live from The Black Lodge.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Now that the far right’s goals are being revealed, hopefully the Irish govt will start arresting the ringleaders of this microscopic group, rather than pretending they don’t exist.
One of the two men accused of plotting an attack on immigrants in Ireland is called Karolis Peckauskas and I have nothing to add to that
Right-wing extremist terror group planned destruction of Galway Mosque, court hears
Portlaoise District Court hears gardaí discovered ‘manifesto’ and video during search
www.irishtimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Now that the far right’s goals are being revealed, hopefully the Irish govt will start arresting the ringleaders of this microscopic group, rather than pretending they don’t exist.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
For as many years as anyone been counting two or more inmates been mistakenly released from British prisons most weeks. Record does not make it acceptable. System needs to be fixed. It does leave me asking why BBC now gripped by end-of-civilisation hysteria heard on Radio 4 Today programme.
November 6, 2025 at 10:52 AM
For as many years as anyone been counting two or more inmates been mistakenly released from British prisons most weeks. Record does not make it acceptable. System needs to be fixed. It does leave me asking why BBC now gripped by end-of-civilisation hysteria heard on Radio 4 Today programme.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
I'm not sure I understand the surprised tone: www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
Revealed: Qatar-linked intelligence operation targeted ICC prosecutor’s alleged victim
Exclusive: Woman who accused Karim Khan of misconduct was subject of covert operation involving two British private intelligence firms
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I'm not sure I understand the surprised tone: www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
🇧🇪 Belgian intelligence services believe Russia is involved in drone incidents, - Belga
Belga's sources in intelligence services have pointed to several signs of foreign interference in the drone launch situation. In particular, such actions "go beyond the capabilities of amateurs."
Belga's sources in intelligence services have pointed to several signs of foreign interference in the drone launch situation. In particular, such actions "go beyond the capabilities of amateurs."
November 5, 2025 at 8:12 PM
🇧🇪 Belgian intelligence services believe Russia is involved in drone incidents, - Belga
Belga's sources in intelligence services have pointed to several signs of foreign interference in the drone launch situation. In particular, such actions "go beyond the capabilities of amateurs."
Belga's sources in intelligence services have pointed to several signs of foreign interference in the drone launch situation. In particular, such actions "go beyond the capabilities of amateurs."
Profiles in courage.
RFK Jr's response to someone collapsing nearby him was to haul ass out of the room as quickly as possible
November 6, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Profiles in courage.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Hezbollah Is Down But Not Out. Undermining the group in Lebanon requires targeting its networks abroad.
@WashInstitute @ForeignPolicy
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/06/h...
@WashInstitute @ForeignPolicy
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/06/h...
Hezbollah Is Down But Not Out
Undermining the group in Lebanon requires targeting its networks abroad.
foreignpolicy.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Hezbollah Is Down But Not Out. Undermining the group in Lebanon requires targeting its networks abroad.
@WashInstitute @ForeignPolicy
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/06/h...
@WashInstitute @ForeignPolicy
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/06/h...
I suspect that vulnerable people susceptible to violence are being targeted not just by religious and political extremists, but by foreign states that wish us ill.
A total of 8,778 referrals were made - up 27% from 6,922 the previous year.
The majority of referrals where the concern was specified were made for individuals who had "no identified ideology" at 56%.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The majority of referrals where the concern was specified were made for individuals who had "no identified ideology" at 56%.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Record referrals to Prevent anti-terror programme
The number of referrals to the scheme increased 27% in the year to March 2025, according to new data.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I suspect that vulnerable people susceptible to violence are being targeted not just by religious and political extremists, but by foreign states that wish us ill.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
German lawmakers accused the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party of operating as a "sleeper cell loyal to Russia".
AfD is accused of submitting numerous inquiries to the federal government on the armed forces and critical infrastructure.
➡️ https://l.euronews.com/4VP9
AfD is accused of submitting numerous inquiries to the federal government on the armed forces and critical infrastructure.
➡️ https://l.euronews.com/4VP9
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
German lawmakers accused the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party of operating as a "sleeper cell loyal to Russia".
AfD is accused of submitting numerous inquiries to the federal government on the armed forces and critical infrastructure.
➡️ https://l.euronews.com/4VP9
AfD is accused of submitting numerous inquiries to the federal government on the armed forces and critical infrastructure.
➡️ https://l.euronews.com/4VP9
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
A gathering armada risks repeating the mistakes of the “war on terror”
War looms in Venezuela as Trump tests an “Americas First” doctrine
A gathering armada risks repeating the mistakes of the “war on terror”
econ.st
November 6, 2025 at 4:01 PM
A gathering armada risks repeating the mistakes of the “war on terror”