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Reposted by Kevork Oskanian

Judah Grunstein @judah-grunstein.bsky.social · 7h

Really thoughtful treatment of a very complex and fraught issue, by @stephenkb.bsky.social.

Israel seems more important — and less desirable — than ever for British Jews

Amid rising antisemitism at home, our lifeboat abroad seems less attractive

www.ft.com

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 5d

Too many think tanks have a major groupthink problem.

Perhaps rename them Groupthink Tanks?

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 6d

'The year is 2040 and Vladimir Putin is appointed governor of Moldova's restive Transniestria region. Along with his peace expertise born from pacifying Ukraine, his tormented soul brings along some baggage'.

Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 6d

Whatever they're smoking in the NYT editorial offices, it must be strong stuff.

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 6d

Whatever they're smoking in the NYT editorial offices, it must be strong stuff.

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 6d

Russia isn't preparing to 'attack' NATO.

What it wants is to accentuate Trump's abandonment of the continent which it, in turn, hopes will lead to Europe's abandonment of Ukraine.

Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 7d

No doubt Russia is testing NATO's boundaries, applying pinpricks to probe and irritate.

But it would be surprising if it turned to direct conflict with the alliance before the fighting in Ukraine somehow comes to a halt, even if it were to 'win'. (1/3)

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 7d

Most middle-class British headline of the year.

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 7d

Would it not prioritise restoring its influence in the Caucasus and Central Asia before going beyond the 'near abroad'?

That would give NATO's European part time to adapt and bolster deterrence. (3/3)

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 7d

An issue that is often ignored: Russia's loss of influence in 'its neighbourhood'.

So are, it has shown itself far too engaged in Ukraine to push back at re-alignments by formerly much more cautious post-Soviet states to its South. (2/3)

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 7d

No doubt Russia is testing NATO's boundaries, applying pinpricks to probe and irritate.

But it would be surprising if it turned to direct conflict with the alliance before the fighting in Ukraine somehow comes to a halt, even if it were to 'win'. (1/3)

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 7d

Smells like Internet Bubble spirit.

CNN @cnn.com · 8d

The artificial intelligence industry has a big problem: 95% of companies that try AI aren’t making any money from it, according to a recent report.

Most companies aren’t seeing a return on AI investments. This tech CEO wants to change that | CNN Business

The artificial intelligence industry has a big problem: 95% of companies that try AI aren’t making any money from it, according to a report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology last month. O...

www.cnn.com

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 8d

Anyone in America think elections in 2026 and 2028 will be played by the book?

Perhaps time to wake up and smell the coffee.

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 8d

Downright sinister.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 8d

Trump to generals: "Last month, I signed an executive order to provide training for a quick reaction force that can help quell civil disturbances. This is gonna be a big thing for the people in this room, because it's the enemy from within & we have to handle it before it gets out of control"

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Reposted by Kevork Oskanian

Thomas Hegghammer @hegghammer.net · 9d

Brits being contrarian (again). Norway has had this for years and I can tell you 1) it simplifies everything from online banking to gov services enormously & 2) it is less of a threat to privacy because data are kept properly in one place instead of in tens of different places with varying security

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 11d

‘A hacker’s dream’: Britons on Keir Starmer’s plan for digital ID cards

Views range from concerns over civil liberties and cybersecurity, to welcoming it as a helpful system to streamline services

www.theguardian.com

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 8d

Don't impose sanctions, and you provide Trump with an excuse to bail out.

(Incidentally, Trump referred to NATO, not the EU, and there is a snowball's chance in hell that Turkey would comply.)

Impose sanctions, and Europe is driven into even greater dependence on the United States.

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 8d

US NATO Amb Whitaker was asked about Russia sanctions at Atlantic Council this morning - touched on China and Hungary

"There's a lot of other things we can do on a sanctions front, on a shadow fleet front. There are a menu of items that we could do, but we can't do it alone...

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 8d

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 11d

Gimmick” is probably the most overused word in British politics nowadays.

Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 12d

The states recognising Palestine should give Netanyahu’s words exactly as much weight as to those of an indicted war criminal.

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 12d

Starmer has to come up with one - sweeping, ambitious, mobilising - or make way for someone who can.

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 12d

Where’s the vision?

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 12d

Come for the really good essay by Patrick Maguire, stay for the really bad one being shared (approvingly!!) by some Labour MPs: www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

There’s a void at the heart of Labour: it needs a battle of ideas

A withering analysis shared among Keir Starmer’s MPs says his vague incrementalism and absence of critical thinking is steering the party to disaster

www.thetimes.com

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 12d

Few people embody the neoliberal politician’s complete lack of self-awareness as perfectly as Tony Blair.

Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 12d

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 12d

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 12d

Live scenes from Washington DC.

youtu.be/vJJT7G4CRPg?...

I Claudius - The Emperor Caligula has become a god.

YouTube video by MDawg Rules

youtu.be

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 12d

Starmer:

"Labour made mistakes on immigration".

Voters:

"OK, so we'll vote for the people who didn't make those mistakes".

It's not rocket science.

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 12d

If you want to take on Reform, you'll need a broad, alternative vision coupled with a frontal attack, not fragmentary policies attached to generalities on Britain having to be 'nice and decent'.

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Kevork Oskanian @drkevorko.bsky.social · 12d

That's it?

ID cards and self-flagellation?

Starmer is, basically, a younger English version of Biden.

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