Rebecca K Campbell
@rebeccakcampbell.bsky.social
Author of the epic poem "The Lay of the Vixens: a Song of Ancient Amazons". Aerospace & Defence journalist. MA in International Relations.
Pinned
It's the festive season, so let me promote my 23 000 word epic poem (in free verse) about Amazons in an ancient world, " The Lay of the Vixens" :-
My "warm" take on the Trump-class "battleships" (BBGs, as they are being classified). They make sense only in terms of an anti-access/area denial strategy. An AA/AD strategy would be completely in line with VP Vance-led MAGA isolationism & with Trump's great powers spheres-of-interest mindset.
December 23, 2025 at 11:56 AM
My "warm" take on the Trump-class "battleships" (BBGs, as they are being classified). They make sense only in terms of an anti-access/area denial strategy. An AA/AD strategy would be completely in line with VP Vance-led MAGA isolationism & with Trump's great powers spheres-of-interest mindset.
On 21/12/25 in the "Sunday Telegraph", one of the UK's most conservative mainstream columnists, Simon Heffer, has penned an eviscerating attack on Donald Trump & asserted that the US can no longer be regarded as the leader of the free world. This is a very significant attitude shift towards the US.
December 21, 2025 at 5:51 AM
On 21/12/25 in the "Sunday Telegraph", one of the UK's most conservative mainstream columnists, Simon Heffer, has penned an eviscerating attack on Donald Trump & asserted that the US can no longer be regarded as the leader of the free world. This is a very significant attitude shift towards the US.
The term to use to describe Trump's rule is Caesarism, not fascism.
December 18, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The term to use to describe Trump's rule is Caesarism, not fascism.
I have a suspicion that "civilisational erasure" is actually the objective for Trump/MAGA when it comes to Western Europe. Western Europe's liberal, & therefore tolerant & inclusive, democracy, simply by existing, is an ideological threat to MAGA's narrow-minded, conformist & intolerant vision.
December 13, 2025 at 9:42 AM
I have a suspicion that "civilisational erasure" is actually the objective for Trump/MAGA when it comes to Western Europe. Western Europe's liberal, & therefore tolerant & inclusive, democracy, simply by existing, is an ideological threat to MAGA's narrow-minded, conformist & intolerant vision.
1. Some European analysts are complaining that key national leaders in Europe are not responding vocally to President Trump's provocations. But this seems unreasonable to me. Increasing autonomy from the US is, in practice, a complex task. Trump can do a lot of damage to Euopean defence, still.
December 11, 2025 at 6:14 PM
1. Some European analysts are complaining that key national leaders in Europe are not responding vocally to President Trump's provocations. But this seems unreasonable to me. Increasing autonomy from the US is, in practice, a complex task. Trump can do a lot of damage to Euopean defence, still.
I am taking Trump's decision to authorise the export of Nvidia H200 chips to China to confirm that he has no intention whatsoever to confront Beijing, & that the next iteration of the NSS will betray Asian democracies just like the recently released one has betrayed European democracies.
December 9, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I am taking Trump's decision to authorise the export of Nvidia H200 chips to China to confirm that he has no intention whatsoever to confront Beijing, & that the next iteration of the NSS will betray Asian democracies just like the recently released one has betrayed European democracies.
It's the festive season, so let me promote my 23 000 word epic poem (in free verse) about Amazons in an ancient world, " The Lay of the Vixens" :-
December 4, 2025 at 1:56 PM
It's the festive season, so let me promote my 23 000 word epic poem (in free verse) about Amazons in an ancient world, " The Lay of the Vixens" :-
Despite Trump's fulminations & threats, the G20 leaders meeting in South Africa have issued a "G20 Leaders Declaration". Most of it is waffle of course (these things usually are) but the fact it was issued is a pretty striking illustration of the decline of US influence in the world, under Trump.
November 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Despite Trump's fulminations & threats, the G20 leaders meeting in South Africa have issued a "G20 Leaders Declaration". Most of it is waffle of course (these things usually are) but the fact it was issued is a pretty striking illustration of the decline of US influence in the world, under Trump.
I see that the leaders of the European powers, Japan, & Canada, plus the EU, have issued a joint statement that diplomatically (doesn't insult Trump) but clearly states that the proposed US-Russia "peace" plan is unacceptable, without (a lot of) reworking.
November 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I see that the leaders of the European powers, Japan, & Canada, plus the EU, have issued a joint statement that diplomatically (doesn't insult Trump) but clearly states that the proposed US-Russia "peace" plan is unacceptable, without (a lot of) reworking.
The "peace" plan that Trump is pushing Ukraine to accept is, if the reports about it are accurate, an appalling betrayal. The UK, France, Germany and the rest of Europe must show steadfast support for Ukraine & make it clear that Kyiv will have their support if the plan is rejected.
November 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM
The "peace" plan that Trump is pushing Ukraine to accept is, if the reports about it are accurate, an appalling betrayal. The UK, France, Germany and the rest of Europe must show steadfast support for Ukraine & make it clear that Kyiv will have their support if the plan is rejected.
Is Trump's big aeronaval build-up against Venezuela just a manoeuvre to give the impression of strength and power, to distract from his reported (&, to be fair, I must stress "reported") contemptible & cowardly plan to appease Putin & betray Ukraine?
November 20, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Is Trump's big aeronaval build-up against Venezuela just a manoeuvre to give the impression of strength and power, to distract from his reported (&, to be fair, I must stress "reported") contemptible & cowardly plan to appease Putin & betray Ukraine?
I am absolutely shocked by opposition (Democratic Party) legislators in the US abdicating their responsibilities & dumping the burden of opposing illegal Trump orders on to serving servicemen & servicewomen, and without providing any guidance at all on the issue!
November 19, 2025 at 6:12 AM
I am absolutely shocked by opposition (Democratic Party) legislators in the US abdicating their responsibilities & dumping the burden of opposing illegal Trump orders on to serving servicemen & servicewomen, and without providing any guidance at all on the issue!
I must confess, as a science & technology journalist, to be shocked by all those who (1) seem to think that unethical, dishonest & biased behaviour at BBC news is OK, because it was directed at Trump (it's never justifiable, no matter who the target is; honest reporting is damning enough), [contd -]
November 12, 2025 at 9:19 AM
I must confess, as a science & technology journalist, to be shocked by all those who (1) seem to think that unethical, dishonest & biased behaviour at BBC news is OK, because it was directed at Trump (it's never justifiable, no matter who the target is; honest reporting is damning enough), [contd -]
Trump sanctions Russian oil groups: incredible! But, hooray! My only quibble: it took a long time, but late is always better than never.
October 24, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Trump sanctions Russian oil groups: incredible! But, hooray! My only quibble: it took a long time, but late is always better than never.
London Daily Telegraph reporting that Trump tried to pressure Ukraine's Zelensky into caving into Putin's territorial demands, for "peace". Zelensky, unsurprisingly, refused. But he is a hero. Trump is not. But this is a really squalid low for Trump to fall to, after his high regarding Gaza.
October 20, 2025 at 10:13 AM
London Daily Telegraph reporting that Trump tried to pressure Ukraine's Zelensky into caving into Putin's territorial demands, for "peace". Zelensky, unsurprisingly, refused. But he is a hero. Trump is not. But this is a really squalid low for Trump to fall to, after his high regarding Gaza.
So, Trump back to normal, regarding Ukraine, allowing Putin to manipulate him again, and putting no further pressure on Russia. Why am I not surprised?
October 19, 2025 at 3:18 PM
So, Trump back to normal, regarding Ukraine, allowing Putin to manipulate him again, and putting no further pressure on Russia. Why am I not surprised?
Ceasefire in Gaza. Hostages & prisoners being released. Trump's done it. Yes, the hard yards were down by hus team, but his political weight made it possible. Will it hold? Who knows. But, right now, it's a real and beneficial achievement. He does deserve praise for it, even though ....
October 13, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Ceasefire in Gaza. Hostages & prisoners being released. Trump's done it. Yes, the hard yards were down by hus team, but his political weight made it possible. Will it hold? Who knows. But, right now, it's a real and beneficial achievement. He does deserve praise for it, even though ....
No comment on Hegseth's & Trump's speeches to the US GOFOs because I haven't had time to check them out, yet. But respected secondary sources indicate that
they were at least eye-brow raising, if not downright alarming.
they were at least eye-brow raising, if not downright alarming.
October 1, 2025 at 7:50 AM
No comment on Hegseth's & Trump's speeches to the US GOFOs because I haven't had time to check them out, yet. But respected secondary sources indicate that
they were at least eye-brow raising, if not downright alarming.
they were at least eye-brow raising, if not downright alarming.
Credit where credit's due: if Trump's Gaza peace plan succeeds, it will be a major achievement for him, perhaps even -- dare I say it? -- a huge achievement. And a very good thing. Heck, even partial success would still be significant.
September 30, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Credit where credit's due: if Trump's Gaza peace plan succeeds, it will be a major achievement for him, perhaps even -- dare I say it? -- a huge achievement. And a very good thing. Heck, even partial success would still be significant.
I wonder if, in the future, Trump's speech at the UN will come to be seen as the moment symbolising America's abdication of its leadership role?
September 24, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I wonder if, in the future, Trump's speech at the UN will come to be seen as the moment symbolising America's abdication of its leadership role?
Fascinating snippets from Lord Ashcroft's latest opinion poll on UK voters attitudes. Only 15% of British voters registered the assassination of Charlie Kirk in the US. And most of those who did are on the political LEFT. On the right, his death went pretty much unregistered.
September 23, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Fascinating snippets from Lord Ashcroft's latest opinion poll on UK voters attitudes. Only 15% of British voters registered the assassination of Charlie Kirk in the US. And most of those who did are on the political LEFT. On the right, his death went pretty much unregistered.
Forgive me some shameless self-promotion: available in print-on-demand paperback from www.amazon.com (& from amazon.co.uk, etc.,) & apparently via several leading bookstores' online shops, my epic poem in free verse. Escape into an ancient quasi-mythological world!
September 18, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Forgive me some shameless self-promotion: available in print-on-demand paperback from www.amazon.com (& from amazon.co.uk, etc.,) & apparently via several leading bookstores' online shops, my epic poem in free verse. Escape into an ancient quasi-mythological world!
I must confess that I have been absolutely stunned by the speed with which, in the US, the MAGA Right has taken the anti-free-speech arguments of the Woke Left & turned them against their originators, &, indeed, all their other critics, left, centre or right! So much for the vaunted 1st Amendment.
September 16, 2025 at 1:49 PM
I must confess that I have been absolutely stunned by the speed with which, in the US, the MAGA Right has taken the anti-free-speech arguments of the Woke Left & turned them against their originators, &, indeed, all their other critics, left, centre or right! So much for the vaunted 1st Amendment.
I must confess that I thought that Trump would, to distract from his inaction regarding Russian provocation (drones into Polish airspace) do something more dramatic than just blowing up another alleged drug-smuggling boat. The gap between Trump's bombast and reality is doing real damage to the US.
September 16, 2025 at 6:53 AM
I must confess that I thought that Trump would, to distract from his inaction regarding Russian provocation (drones into Polish airspace) do something more dramatic than just blowing up another alleged drug-smuggling boat. The gap between Trump's bombast and reality is doing real damage to the US.
Trump has, unsurprisingly, shown zero courage over the Russian violation of Polish airspace. Expect him to now bully some weak country, to assure his supporters that he is tough.
September 12, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Trump has, unsurprisingly, shown zero courage over the Russian violation of Polish airspace. Expect him to now bully some weak country, to assure his supporters that he is tough.