Lawrence Freedman
@ldfreedman.bsky.social
Emeritus Professor of War Studies King's College London. Latest Book Command: The Politics of Military Operations from Korea to Ukraine. Substack Comment is Freed https://samf.substack.com/
Reposted by Lawrence Freedman
New post from @ldfreedman.bsky.social
Is Ukraine's position improving?
What's Russia's breaking point?
Is House of Dynamite accurate?
Answering your questions - part one
Topics covered pictured below.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/is-ukraine...
Is Ukraine's position improving?
What's Russia's breaking point?
Is House of Dynamite accurate?
Answering your questions - part one
Topics covered pictured below.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/is-ukraine...
February 14, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Reposted by Lawrence Freedman
New post out:
Why are Reform's poll ratings falling?
How worried should be about Palantir?
How long does Starmer have left?
And lots more of your questions...
Topics covered listed below.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/why-have-r...
Why are Reform's poll ratings falling?
How worried should be about Palantir?
How long does Starmer have left?
And lots more of your questions...
Topics covered listed below.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/why-have-r...
February 14, 2026 at 9:15 AM
New post out:
Why are Reform's poll ratings falling?
How worried should be about Palantir?
How long does Starmer have left?
And lots more of your questions...
Topics covered listed below.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/why-have-r...
Why are Reform's poll ratings falling?
How worried should be about Palantir?
How long does Starmer have left?
And lots more of your questions...
Topics covered listed below.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/why-have-r...
Thanks to readers for so many questions - more than can be answered in one post. Topics covered include implications of Ukraine being able to counterattack now, why Putin keeps on going, threats to UK, China, arms control, and House of Dynamite (£/free trial), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
Is Ukraine's position improving? What's Russia's breaking point? Is House of Dynamite accurate?
Answering your questions (part one)
open.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Thanks to readers for so many questions - more than can be answered in one post. Topics covered include implications of Ukraine being able to counterattack now, why Putin keeps on going, threats to UK, China, arms control, and House of Dynamite (£/free trial), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
Reposted by Lawrence Freedman
No, I still can’t get this out of my head, and I keep trying to grasp the full abyss of this idiocy, unsuccessfully.
Russia spent years, decades "fighting all of NATO," turning America into "radioactive ash" every night on state TV.
Russia spent years, decades "fighting all of NATO," turning America into "radioactive ash" every night on state TV.
February 9, 2026 at 9:54 PM
No, I still can’t get this out of my head, and I keep trying to grasp the full abyss of this idiocy, unsuccessfully.
Russia spent years, decades "fighting all of NATO," turning America into "radioactive ash" every night on state TV.
Russia spent years, decades "fighting all of NATO," turning America into "radioactive ash" every night on state TV.
I doubt any troops cheered Custer.
February 9, 2026 at 7:13 PM
I doubt any troops cheered Custer.
Assuming Starmer days as PM are numbered, Sam considers how he might be replaced and by whom, and what if any difference this will make to the way we are governed. (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/after-star...
After Starmer
What would Labour do differently under a new leader?
samf.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Assuming Starmer days as PM are numbered, Sam considers how he might be replaced and by whom, and what if any difference this will make to the way we are governed. (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/after-star...
Reposted by Lawrence Freedman
There reasons why the U.S. administration might seek to rush along peace talks. But there are major risks with a rushed peace process, and these significantly outweigh any benefits of such a deal. As the saying goes, "if you want it bad, you get it bad."
mickryan.substack.com/p/rushing-to...
mickryan.substack.com/p/rushing-to...
Rushing to Failure with Current Peace Talks? The Big Five, 8 February edition
There many reasons why the U.S. administration might seek to rush along peace talks. But there are a variety of major risks involved in a rushed peace process, and these significantly outweigh any be...
mickryan.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:49 AM
There reasons why the U.S. administration might seek to rush along peace talks. But there are major risks with a rushed peace process, and these significantly outweigh any benefits of such a deal. As the saying goes, "if you want it bad, you get it bad."
mickryan.substack.com/p/rushing-to...
mickryan.substack.com/p/rushing-to...
They could all possibly be true or equally apocryphal!
February 5, 2026 at 4:24 PM
They could all possibly be true or equally apocryphal!
Distinguished man to Sir Thomas Beecham. ‘I believed you conducted before my brother recently.’
Beecham, who has no idea: ‘ah yes and how is your brother?’
Distinguished man: ‘oh, still King.’
Beecham, who has no idea: ‘ah yes and how is your brother?’
Distinguished man: ‘oh, still King.’
February 5, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Distinguished man to Sir Thomas Beecham. ‘I believed you conducted before my brother recently.’
Beecham, who has no idea: ‘ah yes and how is your brother?’
Distinguished man: ‘oh, still King.’
Beecham, who has no idea: ‘ah yes and how is your brother?’
Distinguished man: ‘oh, still King.’
Once had privilege of listening to Ian McKellen perform at Oxford. Seemed timely then - even more so now.
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Once had privilege of listening to Ian McKellen perform at Oxford. Seemed timely then - even more so now.
They only asked me for $75. I feel cheap.
February 4, 2026 at 1:52 PM
They only asked me for $75. I feel cheap.
Reposted by Lawrence Freedman
New post out:
"The most dangerous man in America"
Understanding "Trump's Prime Minister" Stephen Miller - the nexus of all the streams of right-wing thought and behaviour that embody the current regime.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The most dangerous man in America"
Understanding "Trump's Prime Minister" Stephen Miller - the nexus of all the streams of right-wing thought and behaviour that embody the current regime.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
The most dangerous man in America
Understanding Stephen Miller: “Trump’s Prime Minister”
open.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:08 AM
New post out:
"The most dangerous man in America"
Understanding "Trump's Prime Minister" Stephen Miller - the nexus of all the streams of right-wing thought and behaviour that embody the current regime.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The most dangerous man in America"
Understanding "Trump's Prime Minister" Stephen Miller - the nexus of all the streams of right-wing thought and behaviour that embody the current regime.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Reposted by Lawrence Freedman
If you have not yet subscribed, @ldfreedman.bsky.social Substack is a must. Insightful interview with Richard Moore, until September 2025 head of MI6.
He is spot on regarding China. I noticed it over the years from Chinese students in Europe that Europe is seen as a museum populated by weaklings.
He is spot on regarding China. I noticed it over the years from Chinese students in Europe that Europe is seen as a museum populated by weaklings.
February 1, 2026 at 11:17 AM
If you have not yet subscribed, @ldfreedman.bsky.social Substack is a must. Insightful interview with Richard Moore, until September 2025 head of MI6.
He is spot on regarding China. I noticed it over the years from Chinese students in Europe that Europe is seen as a museum populated by weaklings.
He is spot on regarding China. I noticed it over the years from Chinese students in Europe that Europe is seen as a museum populated by weaklings.
And in the second part Richard discusses the challenges of working out what is going on in the Kremlin (and what Putin knows), as well as China and Iran (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/putin-is-n...
"Putin is not getting an accurate picture"
This is the second part of our interview with Richard Moore, who from 2020 until last September was Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) also known as “C”.
samf.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 9:33 AM
And in the second part Richard discusses the challenges of working out what is going on in the Kremlin (and what Putin knows), as well as China and Iran (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/putin-is-n...
Our two part interview with Richard Moore, former head of MI6, produced a lot of fascinating and candid observations. The first part looked at how MI6 works and fits in with rest of government (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/how-mi6-wo...
How MI6 works
From 2020 until last September, Richard Moore was Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) also known as “C”.
samf.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Our two part interview with Richard Moore, former head of MI6, produced a lot of fascinating and candid observations. The first part looked at how MI6 works and fits in with rest of government (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/how-mi6-wo...
Reposted by Lawrence Freedman
New post out:
"Putin is not getting an accurate picture"
Part two of our fascinating interview with former MI6 Chief, Richard Moore.
This time looking at working with the US under Trump, and what he makes of Putin, Xi and the situation in Iran.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/p...
"Putin is not getting an accurate picture"
Part two of our fascinating interview with former MI6 Chief, Richard Moore.
This time looking at working with the US under Trump, and what he makes of Putin, Xi and the situation in Iran.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/p...
"Putin is not getting an accurate picture"
This is the second part of our interview with Richard Moore, who from 2020 until last September was Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) also known as “C”.
open.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 9:08 AM
New post out:
"Putin is not getting an accurate picture"
Part two of our fascinating interview with former MI6 Chief, Richard Moore.
This time looking at working with the US under Trump, and what he makes of Putin, Xi and the situation in Iran.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/p...
"Putin is not getting an accurate picture"
Part two of our fascinating interview with former MI6 Chief, Richard Moore.
This time looking at working with the US under Trump, and what he makes of Putin, Xi and the situation in Iran.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/p...
Reposted by Lawrence Freedman
Good interview with Richard Moore, in which he discusses the less well known work of "reports officers", as opposed to case officers. "Their job is to handle the material coming in from the field. They do all of that due diligence" samf.substack.com/p/how-mi6-wo...
January 29, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Good interview with Richard Moore, in which he discusses the less well known work of "reports officers", as opposed to case officers. "Their job is to handle the material coming in from the field. They do all of that due diligence" samf.substack.com/p/how-mi6-wo...
There was a time when academics just expected to be trusted. Days long gone.
January 29, 2026 at 1:35 PM
There was a time when academics just expected to be trusted. Days long gone.
I had a backlog …
January 29, 2026 at 1:29 PM
I had a backlog …
Good luck at staying retired then.
January 29, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Good luck at staying retired then.
Retirement - for me - just meant off the payroll.
January 29, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Retirement - for me - just meant off the payroll.
Reposted by Lawrence Freedman
New post out:
"How MI6 works"
We interviewed Richard Moore the man who was "C" - Chief of MI6 - until September.
In part one we talked about MI6 operates - how does C work with the Prime Minister? Does he think there's a "deep state" etc...
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/h...
"How MI6 works"
We interviewed Richard Moore the man who was "C" - Chief of MI6 - until September.
In part one we talked about MI6 operates - how does C work with the Prime Minister? Does he think there's a "deep state" etc...
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/h...
How MI6 works
From 2020 until last September, Richard Moore was Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) also known as “C”.
open.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:51 AM
New post out:
"How MI6 works"
We interviewed Richard Moore the man who was "C" - Chief of MI6 - until September.
In part one we talked about MI6 operates - how does C work with the Prime Minister? Does he think there's a "deep state" etc...
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/h...
"How MI6 works"
We interviewed Richard Moore the man who was "C" - Chief of MI6 - until September.
In part one we talked about MI6 operates - how does C work with the Prime Minister? Does he think there's a "deep state" etc...
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/h...
What is going on in the trilateral negotiations with US, Russia, and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi? Why do the Russians talk about a mythical deal supposedly agreed at the Alaska summit? Can Ukraine rely on US security guarantees? All in my latest post (£/free trial), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/g...?
Groundhog Day?
The state of the current negotiations over Ukraine
open.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:54 AM
What is going on in the trilateral negotiations with US, Russia, and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi? Why do the Russians talk about a mythical deal supposedly agreed at the Alaska summit? Can Ukraine rely on US security guarantees? All in my latest post (£/free trial), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/g...?
Reposted by Lawrence Freedman
With the aid of chocolate I have brought myself to read the just-released National Defense Strategy. A few quick reactions: 1/7
media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/...
media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/...
media.defense.gov
January 25, 2026 at 6:48 PM
With the aid of chocolate I have brought myself to read the just-released National Defense Strategy. A few quick reactions: 1/7
media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/...
media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/...
Reposted by Lawrence Freedman
This is excellent. 100% required reading for anyone interested in public sector, Whitehall and/or civil service reform.
New post out:
"Who runs Britain?"
Politicians complain they are unable to do anything because of the machinery of state. Yet they have more power than ever.
What explains this "paradox of executive power" and how can it be fixed?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...
"Who runs Britain?"
Politicians complain they are unable to do anything because of the machinery of state. Yet they have more power than ever.
What explains this "paradox of executive power" and how can it be fixed?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...
Who runs Britain?
The paradox of executive power
open.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 12:16 PM
This is excellent. 100% required reading for anyone interested in public sector, Whitehall and/or civil service reform.