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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse
@timdowse.bsky.social
680 followers 480 following 1.1K posts
Consultant, after 40 years with FCO, Cabinet Office, HM Treasury. Specialties: national security, defence, geopolitical analysis.
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Reposted by Tim Dowse
kyivindependent.com
The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 5h
⚡️UK supplies Ukraine with over 85,000 drones in 6 months.

As part of its defense support, the U.K. has invested 600 million pounds (nearly $800 million) in drone production for Ukraine in 2025. This includes tens of thousands of FPV (first-person-view) drones designed for frontline use.
(6) Ukraine war latest update: Drone strike leaves Russian oil terminal in Crimea burning, 16 tanks damaged
Coverage of Russia's war against Ukraine with breaking news and front-line updates. Sixteen fuel tanks were damaged at the Morskoi Neftianoi Terminal in Russian-occupied Feodosia, Crimea, as a result ...
kyivindependent.com
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 9h
On the precedent of other recent elections (Canada, Australia), this should be the last thing Milei needs.
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Reposted by Tim Dowse
radchenko.bsky.social
Sergey Radchenko @radchenko.bsky.social · 14h
What will make Russia a "contented" power? And is the price worth paying? open.substack.com/pub/profradc...
What will make Russia a "contented" power? And is the price worth paying?
An interesting discussion from the mid-1990s.
open.substack.com
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 2d
Quite. This entire story seems a completely artificial concoction. (Rather like the BBC’s attempt to find a dubious connection between Tony Blair and Epstein.)
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 7d
I think the days are gone when a state could “quietly assemble forces” to launch a surprise conventional attack on a militarily sophisticated neighbour. Prep for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine was seen well in advance.

“Little green men” might be another thing. But they aren’t the threat to NATO.
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 7d
The evidence for some time has indicated Putin’s appetite for risk is considerably higher than that of most Western leaders. Way back in 2015 the GRU launched a [false flag] cyberattack on a French channel, TV5Monde, *when Russia was seeking French and German support to get EU sanctions lifted*.
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 8d
I'm reminded that I got this wrong: the cost-sharing agreement related to BBC Monitoring, not the World Service. Similar issues though.
timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 10d
The arguments over World Service funding have gone on for a quarter of a century at least. There used to be an interdepartmental cost-sharing arrangement that broke down around the year 2000 when the MOD pulled out. The BBC themselves have always refused to consider taking advertising.
timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 10d
The arguments over World Service funding have gone on for a quarter of a century at least. There used to be an interdepartmental cost-sharing arrangement that broke down around the year 2000 when the MOD pulled out. The BBC themselves have always refused to consider taking advertising.
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 10d
It led to endless grief with foreign governments who regularly objected to BBC reports about them and couldn't believe HMG funded a service over which it had no editorial control.
timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 13d
I was wrong - it turns out to be available online (for free).
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 13d
OK, thanks. That looks like a challenge to track down!
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 13d
Strongly agree about Descent to Suez - a very good (and depressing) read. I haven't read Eveland.
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 13d
I recently looked at Scott Lucas’ collection of documents “Britain and Suez: The Lion’s Last Roar”. I like the way he uses US papers as well as British ones.

Is there a good account from official records of the French side of the story? I’m not aware of one.
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 13d
I’ve not read that one, for precisely that reason!

For a straight military history there is an old Ian Allan volume by Robert Jackson, available on eBay. I guess it may be overtaken these days.
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 13d
Keith Kyle’s magnum opus “Suez” is another. If you want something more specialised, I found “Whitehall and the Suez Crisis” (Routledge, 2000) interesting. It’s a ridiculous price new, but used copies seem readily available.

Also Scott Lucas’ “Divided We Stand”, focusing on UK/US aspects.
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 14d
Exactly.
timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 14d
Interested to see how SCOTUS handles the legal challenge to that, if it is carried through as stated.
timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 15d
Who is all this aimed at? The TV audience? It can't be the generals and admirals in the hall, who didn't attain high rank without being able to tell fact from fiction.
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 15d
If this means what it appears to mean, it feels like the most consequential thing he's said.
atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 15d
Hegseth: "Today, at my direction, each service will ensure that every requirement for every combat MOS, for every designated combat arms position, returns to the highest male standard only."
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 16d
Odd how, according to Russia, civilian casualties in Ukraine are all caused by air defences, but the same is never true in Russia.

Ukrainian attacks are clearly directed overwhelmingly at economic and military targets.
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 17d
Well, he was very well-known. But it’s a bit odd to say “now she makes works” for him, given he’s been dead since 2021.
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Reposted by Tim Dowse
samfr.bsky.social
Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 20d
Putin has increased Russia's VAT rate to 22% from 20%, breaking a pledge not to raise taxes before 2030. Another indication of a creaking Russian economy.
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 18d
Switzerland, yes (important). But EU members, notably Ireland, do have a trade agreement with the US.
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 18d
So it's basically about India again, is it?
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timdowse.bsky.social
Tim Dowse @timdowse.bsky.social · 19d
Yes - I almost added that. Superb film.
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