Paranoid Corner (3)

Mar 03, 2026 Given the premise, it becomes easy to treat disparate events as mutually reinforcing confirmation of it, often yielding elaborate conspiracy theories. The standard Russophobe narrative runs roughly as follows: Russia invaded Georgia in 2008. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The United Kingdom is fighting for the freedom … Continue reading Paranoid Corner (3)

Four Years Later

Feb 26, 2026 Four years after the so-called full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it is very hard to disentangle oneself from all clichés, lies, and reflexes in which the war is entangled. I have never lived through a ‘full-scale war’, nor served as a soldier in any war, big or small, so perhaps it was always … Continue reading Four Years Later

Follow-up to: ‘Ukraine – the delusions of the warmongers’

Jan 10, 2026 Wittgenstein wrote: “One thinks one is tracking the outline of a thing’s nature and one is merely tracing round the frame through which one looks at it.” In this spirit, I try to conjure up a debate between two frames for looking at the Ukraine war. The post below reproduces the main … Continue reading Follow-up to: ‘Ukraine – the delusions of the warmongers’

Ukraine – the delusion of the warmongers

Dec 15, 2025 1. European rearmament and threat inflation Lord Robertson was the lead author of Britain’s Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2024. The Review effectively seeks to implant a war-ready mindset across society, insisting that the UK must be “better prepared for high-intensity, protracted war” and that its war-making, and therefore deterrence, … Continue reading Ukraine – the delusion of the warmongers

Brussels Speech: Should Europe rearm?

November 28th, 2025 My speech is in four parts. The first looks at the doctrine of self-defence. Second, I question the arguments currently being advanced for European rearmament. Third, I outline the two narratives which frame the current conflict between the political West and Russia. Finally, I recall President Eisenhower’s warning against the military-industrial complex. … Continue reading Brussels Speech: Should Europe rearm?

Ukraine – the delusion of the warmongers

Dec 15, 2025 1. European rearmament and threat inflation Lord Robertson was the lead author of Britain’s Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2024. The Review effectively seeks to implant a war-ready mindset across society, insisting that the UK must be “better prepared for high-intensity, protracted war” and that its war-making, and therefore deterrence, … Continue reading Ukraine – the delusion of the warmongers

Defence Industrial Strategy – Wednesday 10 September 2025

This is a follow-up to my oral question on Ukraine of 9th September, which I have previously circulated. It is a telling example of the ‘war-mongering’ mood of official Britain. For a full view of the debate see link: https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2025-09-10/debates/5FF5CC28-E0EF-4D17-8C8C-8999CA2A4154/DefenceIndustrialStrategy  Main points of Government Statement on ‘Defence Industrial Strategy’, House of Commons 9 September (Luke … Continue reading Defence Industrial Strategy – Wednesday 10 September 2025