Phillips OBrien
@phillipspobrien.bsky.social
46K followers 460 following 1.5K posts
Professor of Strategic Studies, Author, Lover of Sicily
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Reposted by Phillips OBrien
helenebismarck.bsky.social
It is also delusional thinking.
You think flattery is going to keep that man on your side in the long run?

Good luck.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
There is perverse thinking, and a step below that is thinking that a president that is illegally sending US military units into US cities should be awarded the Nobel Peace prize.
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
But people are honestly saying Trump will give Ukraine tomahawk missiles to attack Russia…sure he will.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
There is perverse thinking, and a step below that is thinking that a president that is illegally sending US military units into US cities should be awarded the Nobel Peace prize.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
But people are honestly saying Trump will give Ukraine tomahawk missiles to attack Russia…sure he will.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Great new Europe Dispatch column by @alanderminna.bsky.social just appeared (all free). This week she discusses the challenges in implementing a Deterrence by Punishment policy towards Russia--though that of course does not mean it should not be tried. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Easier Said Than Done: Hybrid Deterrence By Punishment
This week, Minna Ålander turns to the question of how to move from defensive reactions to Russian hybrid warfare to an effective deterrent. (Spoiler: not easy)
open.substack.com
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
flaneuse1.bsky.social
So well worth reading. Highly recommended.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Just sent out this free post. Something notable has happened in the last few months (particularly since the Putin-Trump love fest in Alaska). GOP public opinion in the USA, which Trump has almost singlehandedly made Ukraine-skeptical earlier… open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Something Interesting Is Happening With GOP Public Opinion
Hi All,
open.substack.com
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Just sent out this free post. Something notable has happened in the last few months (particularly since the Putin-Trump love fest in Alaska). GOP public opinion in the USA, which Trump has almost singlehandedly made Ukraine-skeptical earlier… open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Something Interesting Is Happening With GOP Public Opinion
Hi All,
open.substack.com
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
has moved away from Putin and towards Ukraine. It’s the one issue that Trump has lost control over GOP thinking:
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Just sent out this free post. Something notable has happened in the last few months (particularly since the Putin-Trump love fest in Alaska). GOP public opinion in the USA, which Trump has almost singlehandedly made Ukraine-skeptical earlier… open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Something Interesting Is Happening With GOP Public Opinion
Hi All,
open.substack.com
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
factforce.bsky.social
This👇
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
The most frustrating thing about this war is that the US could step in forcefully now with harsh sanctions against Russia and a large military package for Ukraine with ranged weapons as the centrepiece, and the war would end soon with a Russian defeat.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
All it requires is the determination to do the right thing. The Russian military is beatable and the Russian economy is weakening
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
The most frustrating thing about this war is that the US could step in forcefully now with harsh sanctions against Russia and a large military package for Ukraine with ranged weapons as the centrepiece, and the war would end soon with a Russian defeat.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Always the best way to celebrate getting $20 billion from the Trump administration to screw US soybean farmers.
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
blackkettle.bsky.social
From OBrien's post:

"One thing I have learned about myself over the last three and a half years of writing pieces of analysis is that my greatest errors almost always emerge from optimism."

Uff. I'd have to say the same.

Short and well worth a read. Don't ignore the embedded links.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Just sent out this post. Three and a half years after Bucha, after mass child abductions started, after nightly attacks on civilians, the political strength of parties sympathetic to Russia (which is doing these things) is growing not declining. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Does Europe Really Want to Save Itself?
We will know Sooner Than Many Understand.
open.substack.com
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
tordenskjoldcph.bsky.social
Europeans voting for extremes must understand this. They’ll start with ones you might not like: muslims, homosexuals etc.

But as Amen in the church even light destillations of fascism will continue with journalism, courts and eventually physically threaten any kind of opposition. Even you.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Just sent out this post. Three and a half years after Bucha, after mass child abductions started, after nightly attacks on civilians, the political strength of parties sympathetic to Russia (which is doing these things) is growing not declining. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Does Europe Really Want to Save Itself?
We will know Sooner Than Many Understand.
open.substack.com
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
They lead the polls in Germany, France and the UK.

The question therefore needs to be asked. Does Europe Really Want To Save Itself?
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Just sent out this post. Three and a half years after Bucha, after mass child abductions started, after nightly attacks on civilians, the political strength of parties sympathetic to Russia (which is doing these things) is growing not declining. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Does Europe Really Want to Save Itself?
We will know Sooner Than Many Understand.
open.substack.com
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
trendyhendy.bsky.social
The paradox of "I am all powerful God-King" and "Democrats won't let me open the government" may finally be hitting his voters
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Some major miscalculations by Trump
and the GOP here. First, after spending ages praising to Trump, letting him rule by executive order, letting him boast about his great power, they thought voters would say the government shutdown was the Dems fault. Americans see the Government as Trump’s.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Dems should now aggressively move to force more climbdowns from Trump and the GOP to let them off the hook.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Second; Trump and the GOP have been excellent at mostly shielding their voters from any economic harm by blowing up the deficit and bailing them int of needs be (see soybean farmers), but in this case they were about to stick their voters with a massive bill.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Some major miscalculations by Trump
and the GOP here. First, after spending ages praising to Trump, letting him rule by executive order, letting him boast about his great power, they thought voters would say the government shutdown was the Dems fault. Americans see the Government as Trump’s.
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Dems would have been better showing this fighting spirit from the start
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Why the Democrats were right to force the Republicans hand on the gov't shutdown. Trump is freaking out because the GOP will be blamed for bankrupting many Americans over healthcare. The Democrats should force a full and humiliating climb down on Trump and the GOP.
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
stollmeyer.bsky.social
🔥 Finally an EU leader says it out loud:

“We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies.”
defenddemocracy.bsky.social
President Macron: “Europeans, let's wake up!

We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”

defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...