David Strachan-Morris
@drdavidsm.bsky.social
Lecturer in Intelligence and Security. Links to recent work on Combat Intelligence at https://shorturl.at/pBDjL and warning intelligence at https://shorturl.at/waeL2
Keen rugby fan and supporter of Ulster Rugby and Ireland.
Keen rugby fan and supporter of Ulster Rugby and Ireland.
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
Our final issue for 2025, No 40: Vol 6 is now out. It is another great Special Issue; 'Intelligence and Digital Transformation: Strategies, Challenges, and Opportunities' edited by Lars Haugom, Margunn Aanestad, Damien Van Puyvelde & Stig Stenslie
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The journey of digital transformation in intelligence organizations
This introduction to the special issue explores how digital technologies are reshaping intelligence organizations. It frames digital transformation not as a linear process but as a complex journey ...
www.tandfonline.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Our final issue for 2025, No 40: Vol 6 is now out. It is another great Special Issue; 'Intelligence and Digital Transformation: Strategies, Challenges, and Opportunities' edited by Lars Haugom, Margunn Aanestad, Damien Van Puyvelde & Stig Stenslie
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
This also raises a question about the expertise and real depth of knowledge of executives. AI just provides another part of the 'junk food' diet of PowerPoint bullet points and 'Executive Summaries' that they live on.
A study by Dayforce shows 87% of executives use AI for work, compared to 57% of managers and just 27% of employees.
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
Execs are embracing AI more than their employees are, new research suggests
Research from HR software company Dayforce suggests that executives are leaning into AI far more than their employees.
www.businessinsider.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:48 PM
This also raises a question about the expertise and real depth of knowledge of executives. AI just provides another part of the 'junk food' diet of PowerPoint bullet points and 'Executive Summaries' that they live on.
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
I've got writing deadlines, marking deadlines and teaching prep to do for later in the week, not to mention admin tasks and an overflowing email inbox, but let's put all that aside and admire Oxford college cats
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
College cats of Oxford
Once upon a time, we featured an image of Magdalen's kitten, Ozymandias, in our newsletter. We figured it might be a gentle contrast to our regular diet of planning and local politics.
The grey ball ...
oxfordclarion.uk
November 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
I've got writing deadlines, marking deadlines and teaching prep to do for later in the week, not to mention admin tasks and an overflowing email inbox, but let's put all that aside and admire Oxford college cats
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
After the ‘summer of flags’ the left needs to engage with England and Englishness
England for the English? — Chartist
John Denham examines the flag phenomenon, why Labour is getting its response to England dangerously wrong and why it should develop a programme of genuine national and local democracy After the “summe...
www.chartist.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
After the ‘summer of flags’ the left needs to engage with England and Englishness
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
Our latest edition, Vol 40, No. 5 is out now! This edition is a Special Issue on Strategic Surprise and Early Warning.
www.tandfonline.com/toc/fint20/c...
www.tandfonline.com/toc/fint20/c...
Intelligence and National Security
Rethinking Strategic Warning and Intelligence Failure in an Era of Global Transformation. Volume 40, Issue 5 of Intelligence and National Security
www.tandfonline.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Our latest edition, Vol 40, No. 5 is out now! This edition is a Special Issue on Strategic Surprise and Early Warning.
www.tandfonline.com/toc/fint20/c...
www.tandfonline.com/toc/fint20/c...
Wasn't this how the first episode of 'The Last Ship' started?
Our work resurrecting ice age #ghostponds in the Guardian today @timholtwilson.bsky.social @hburningham.bsky.social @uclgeography.bsky.social ‘Just add water’: how to bring back ancient plants in a Norfolk ghost pond | Wildlife | The Guardian share.google/kO6HQaC4PAUJ...
‘Just add water’: how to bring back ancient plants in a Norfolk ghost pond
An expert team are resurrecting ice age ponds and finding rare species returning from a ‘perfect time capsule’
share.google
September 20, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Wasn't this how the first episode of 'The Last Ship' started?
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
Are you a full professor in Security Studies with a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Political Science, Public Policy, History (Intelligence or National Security), or a related field?
Please consider applying for or sharing this vacancy. We're a super team!
utep.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
Please consider applying for or sharing this vacancy. We're a super team!
utep.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
utep.interviewexchange.com
September 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Are you a full professor in Security Studies with a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Political Science, Public Policy, History (Intelligence or National Security), or a related field?
Please consider applying for or sharing this vacancy. We're a super team!
utep.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
Please consider applying for or sharing this vacancy. We're a super team!
utep.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
A great article by @magslong.bsky.social, which also presents another argument for a national intelligence service in Ireland. As good as An Garda Siochana is, these kinds of problem need to be tackled at a national level, involving the whole of government.
www.thecipherbrief.com/gray-zone-cr...
www.thecipherbrief.com/gray-zone-cr...
When States Go Mob: The Criminalization of Modern Statecraft
OPINION — In the fall of 2021, an FBI informant received a chilling offer: $300,000 to assassinate former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton. The would-be hitman posed as a drug cartel enforce...
www.thecipherbrief.com
September 9, 2025 at 10:52 AM
A great article by @magslong.bsky.social, which also presents another argument for a national intelligence service in Ireland. As good as An Garda Siochana is, these kinds of problem need to be tackled at a national level, involving the whole of government.
www.thecipherbrief.com/gray-zone-cr...
www.thecipherbrief.com/gray-zone-cr...
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
⁉️ Earlier this year we saw Blaise Metreweli selected as the next "C". But how do you appoint an SIS/MI6 Chief?
In this Diplomacy & Statecraft article, we use archival material to study the process and the role of officials in picking "C".
The article is free to read:
🔗 t.co/PzFDdPcg2i
In this Diplomacy & Statecraft article, we use archival material to study the process and the role of officials in picking "C".
The article is free to read:
🔗 t.co/PzFDdPcg2i
September 2, 2025 at 9:04 AM
⁉️ Earlier this year we saw Blaise Metreweli selected as the next "C". But how do you appoint an SIS/MI6 Chief?
In this Diplomacy & Statecraft article, we use archival material to study the process and the role of officials in picking "C".
The article is free to read:
🔗 t.co/PzFDdPcg2i
In this Diplomacy & Statecraft article, we use archival material to study the process and the role of officials in picking "C".
The article is free to read:
🔗 t.co/PzFDdPcg2i
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
'Denmark's foreign minister has summoned the most senior diplomat at the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen over reports U.S. citizens have been conducting influence operations in Greenland, public broadcaster DR reported on Wednesday, citing the minister.' www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Danish foreign minister summons US diplomat over Greenland, broadcaster reports
Denmark's foreign minister has summoned the most senior diplomat at the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen over reports U.S. citizens have been conducting influence operations in Greenland, public broadcaster DR reported on Wednesday, citing the minister.
www.reuters.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:17 AM
'Denmark's foreign minister has summoned the most senior diplomat at the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen over reports U.S. citizens have been conducting influence operations in Greenland, public broadcaster DR reported on Wednesday, citing the minister.' www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
Interesting news from Denmark this morning: at least three American men with ties to Trump have been traveling back and forth to Greenland to recruit locals and gather information on people hostile to Trump. A spectacularly amateurish covert operation.
www.dr.dk/nyheder/indl...
www.dr.dk/nyheder/indl...
Centrale kilder: Mænd med forbindelser til Trump forsøger at infiltrere Grønland
Grønland er mål for påvirkningskampagner, der skal slå sprækker i forholdet til Danmark, oplyser Politiets Efterretningstjeneste.
www.dr.dk
August 27, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Interesting news from Denmark this morning: at least three American men with ties to Trump have been traveling back and forth to Greenland to recruit locals and gather information on people hostile to Trump. A spectacularly amateurish covert operation.
www.dr.dk/nyheder/indl...
www.dr.dk/nyheder/indl...
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
A wonderful opportunity to work with some super Intel Studies scholars and students:
careers.universiteitleiden.nl/job/The-Hagu...
careers.universiteitleiden.nl/job/The-Hagu...
Assistant Professor in Intelligence and Security
Assistant Professor in Intelligence and Security
careers.universiteitleiden.nl
August 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
A wonderful opportunity to work with some super Intel Studies scholars and students:
careers.universiteitleiden.nl/job/The-Hagu...
careers.universiteitleiden.nl/job/The-Hagu...
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
As always, Ted Chiang is great in this interview.
cdh.princeton.edu/blog/2025/08...
cdh.princeton.edu/blog/2025/08...
August 14, 2025 at 1:24 AM
As always, Ted Chiang is great in this interview.
cdh.princeton.edu/blog/2025/08...
cdh.princeton.edu/blog/2025/08...
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
New article just dropped! I've been working with two colleagues from the Faculty of Medicine (a professor of molecular pathology and a mathematician/geneticist) to assess the potential threat from new biotech/genetics developments.
It's available for free here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
It's available for free here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Large-Scale Nightmare or Precision Tool for Covert Operations? An Assessment of the Risks of Genetic Technology in the Near Future
Advances in genetic technology could lead to new threats, such as engineered pathogens, or plots to frame individuals by planting synthesized deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) at a crime scene. Uncontrol...
www.tandfonline.com
August 4, 2025 at 8:22 AM
New article just dropped! I've been working with two colleagues from the Faculty of Medicine (a professor of molecular pathology and a mathematician/geneticist) to assess the potential threat from new biotech/genetics developments.
It's available for free here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
It's available for free here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
Sandra Grimes, Who Helped Unmask a C.I.A. Traitor, Dies at 79 - The New York Times share.google/wGJKEtC69St8...
Sandra Grimes, Who Helped Unmask a C.I.A. Traitor, Dies at 79
She became suspicious when she discovered large deposits in the bank account of Aldrich Ames, whose betrayal cost the lives of at least eight double agents.
share.google
August 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Sandra Grimes, Who Helped Unmask a C.I.A. Traitor, Dies at 79 - The New York Times share.google/wGJKEtC69St8...
Curriculum Transformation Step by Step Guide.
1. Have innovative idea.
2. Discover there is a team, a policy, and a complex process to enact idea.
3. Discover team only exists to create and manage policy and process, not to help with the admin burden.
4. Weigh up existing workload.
5. Abandon idea.
1. Have innovative idea.
2. Discover there is a team, a policy, and a complex process to enact idea.
3. Discover team only exists to create and manage policy and process, not to help with the admin burden.
4. Weigh up existing workload.
5. Abandon idea.
July 30, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Curriculum Transformation Step by Step Guide.
1. Have innovative idea.
2. Discover there is a team, a policy, and a complex process to enact idea.
3. Discover team only exists to create and manage policy and process, not to help with the admin burden.
4. Weigh up existing workload.
5. Abandon idea.
1. Have innovative idea.
2. Discover there is a team, a policy, and a complex process to enact idea.
3. Discover team only exists to create and manage policy and process, not to help with the admin burden.
4. Weigh up existing workload.
5. Abandon idea.
Decades of Executive Summaries and PowerPoint have done a lot of damage as well.
“PowerPoint is the scourge of critical thinking. It encourages fragmented logic by the briefer and passivity in the listener.”
― General Jim Mattis, Call Sign Chaos
“PowerPoint is the scourge of critical thinking. It encourages fragmented logic by the briefer and passivity in the listener.”
― General Jim Mattis, Call Sign Chaos
Decades of mechanistic talk about university degrees as if they were bundles of 'skills' and 'prep' are about to be proved completely wrong (obviously). Want to get a real boost? Do History or English.
July 13, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Decades of Executive Summaries and PowerPoint have done a lot of damage as well.
“PowerPoint is the scourge of critical thinking. It encourages fragmented logic by the briefer and passivity in the listener.”
― General Jim Mattis, Call Sign Chaos
“PowerPoint is the scourge of critical thinking. It encourages fragmented logic by the briefer and passivity in the listener.”
― General Jim Mattis, Call Sign Chaos
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
Decades of mechanistic talk about university degrees as if they were bundles of 'skills' and 'prep' are about to be proved completely wrong (obviously). Want to get a real boost? Do History or English.
July 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Decades of mechanistic talk about university degrees as if they were bundles of 'skills' and 'prep' are about to be proved completely wrong (obviously). Want to get a real boost? Do History or English.
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
Our latest issue, 2025, Vol 40. No. 3 is now out with a great line up of articles! Add us to your summer reading list!
www.tandfonline.com/toc/fint20/c...
www.tandfonline.com/toc/fint20/c...
Intelligence and National Security
Volume 40, Issue 3 of Intelligence and National Security
www.tandfonline.com
July 12, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Our latest issue, 2025, Vol 40. No. 3 is now out with a great line up of articles! Add us to your summer reading list!
www.tandfonline.com/toc/fint20/c...
www.tandfonline.com/toc/fint20/c...
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
This is really interesting read on how it makes our brains lazy arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872
Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task
This study explores the neural and behavioral consequences of LLM-assisted essay writing. Participants were divided into three groups: LLM, Search Engine, and Brain-only (no tools). Each completed thr...
arxiv.org
June 30, 2025 at 12:17 PM
This is really interesting read on how it makes our brains lazy arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872
I've been asked for some punditry. FWIW, here it is:
The attacks against Iran will have achieved tactical success but the long term impact is unclear. A lot depends on their actual impact on Iran's nuclear programme & their effect on Iran's view of the necessity of nuclear weapons for its security.
The attacks against Iran will have achieved tactical success but the long term impact is unclear. A lot depends on their actual impact on Iran's nuclear programme & their effect on Iran's view of the necessity of nuclear weapons for its security.
June 24, 2025 at 10:58 AM
I've been asked for some punditry. FWIW, here it is:
The attacks against Iran will have achieved tactical success but the long term impact is unclear. A lot depends on their actual impact on Iran's nuclear programme & their effect on Iran's view of the necessity of nuclear weapons for its security.
The attacks against Iran will have achieved tactical success but the long term impact is unclear. A lot depends on their actual impact on Iran's nuclear programme & their effect on Iran's view of the necessity of nuclear weapons for its security.
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
I see many folks making many uncaveated claims about what happens next.
I also see the best and most seasoned experts admitting that they don’t know what’s coming—and advising us not to buy what such fully confident pundits are selling.
Trust the latter view. We’re in largely uncharted territory.
I also see the best and most seasoned experts admitting that they don’t know what’s coming—and advising us not to buy what such fully confident pundits are selling.
Trust the latter view. We’re in largely uncharted territory.
June 22, 2025 at 2:56 AM
I see many folks making many uncaveated claims about what happens next.
I also see the best and most seasoned experts admitting that they don’t know what’s coming—and advising us not to buy what such fully confident pundits are selling.
Trust the latter view. We’re in largely uncharted territory.
I also see the best and most seasoned experts admitting that they don’t know what’s coming—and advising us not to buy what such fully confident pundits are selling.
Trust the latter view. We’re in largely uncharted territory.
Direct commissioning into the military can be very beneficial in time of war. It was widespread during the Second World War and allowed the military to acquire vital expertise very quickly. But it was not a means for those individuals to gain benefit for their businesses, which is what this is.
Four top tech execs from OpenAI, Meta, and Palantir have just joined the US Army Reserves at the rank of Lt Colonel.
Tech execs are joining the Army — no grueling boot camp required
Tech leaders from Palantir, Meta, and OpenAI have joined the Army Reserve, bypassing traditional training to chase transformation.
www.businessinsider.com
June 18, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Direct commissioning into the military can be very beneficial in time of war. It was widespread during the Second World War and allowed the military to acquire vital expertise very quickly. But it was not a means for those individuals to gain benefit for their businesses, which is what this is.
Reposted by David Strachan-Morris
Great investigation from Liberty and The i, who've uncovered what UK police forces have been doing with Palantir - buying AI software from them that uses data about an individual's race, sex life, health and political beliefs.
inews.co.uk/news/police-...
inews.co.uk/news/police-...
June 18, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Great investigation from Liberty and The i, who've uncovered what UK police forces have been doing with Palantir - buying AI software from them that uses data about an individual's race, sex life, health and political beliefs.
inews.co.uk/news/police-...
inews.co.uk/news/police-...
That one sentence, "I don't care what she said", sums up so much about the Trump Administration. And not just its lamentable attitude to intelligence.
COLLINS: Tulsi Gabbard testified in March that the intelligence community said Iran wasn't building a nuclear weapon
TRUMP: I don't care what she said
TRUMP: I don't care what she said
June 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
That one sentence, "I don't care what she said", sums up so much about the Trump Administration. And not just its lamentable attitude to intelligence.