@GaryLefley
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Gary Lefley retweeted
There are two competing hypotheses about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The first hypothesis is that the invasion was unprovoked, as Russia is another "Hitler" pursuing expansionism, and that the logical response of NATO is therefore to stop Russia and raise the costs. From this perspective, even diplomacy can be viewed as "appeasement." The second, competing hypothesis is that Russia responded to 30 years of NATO expansion, which it considers an existential threat, and thus considers itself to be fighting a defensive war. If the second hypothesis is correct, then NATO deepening its direct involvement and rejecting negotiations will only result in the destruction of Ukraine while taking further steps toward nuclear war.
George Beebe, the former Director of Russia Analysis at the CIA, argues that the second hypothesis is clearly correct: Russia sees this as a war for its survival and therefore cannot back down. One does not need to agree with the analysis of Beebe, but this should really be at the center of the debate in the West, as our survival depends on it. My great concern is that we are not even permitted to discuss or debate these two competing hypotheses, because the narrative must be protected and all dissent is smeared as repeating Russian propaganda. youtu.be/HrgVTdBvSpI
Gary Lefley retweeted
The fact that a greater proportion of working parents are in poverty (25%) compared to pensioners (16%) is an argument for fighting for better pay for workers and support for children - NOT for scrapping the Triple Lock.
Don't let them play us off against each other.
Gary Lefley retweeted
On the day Streeting posted this tribute to the SAS, his Labour colleague Lord Beamish said they should face greater scrutiny over allegations about their actions in Afghanistan.
The job of a Defence Secretary is to ensure war crimes never happen - NOT to talk like a groupie.
Spent much of today with Special Forces. Of all the people and capabilities I’ve met in the past couple of months, I wish I could show the public the full extent of who they are and what they do. It has made me (even more) proud to be British and of our capabilities as a country - despite the challenges.
Gary Lefley retweeted
Ukraine is running out of time — and pretending otherwise will not save us.
I spoke with @KoeppelRoger of @Weltwoche about Zelenskyy, the war, peace negotiations, and what Ukraine can still save.
This is not a comfortable conversation. But it is one we need to have.
Watch the full interview 👇 youtu.be/E4-pZhxqm1w?si=grd3…
Gary Lefley retweeted
The third British soldier to die in Ukraine, as far as we know. Why was he there? Who authorised boots on the ground in a war with a nuclear power? Are we sleep walking to a holocaust?
It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of Major Paul Wilks, who died in a tragic road traffic incident in Ukraine, away from the front lines, on 12 September.
ALT It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of Major Paul Wilks, who died in a tragic road traffic incident in Ukraine, away from the front lines, on 12 September. He was 40 years old. Our thoughts are with Major Wilks' family, friends and colleagues at this devastating time.
ALT Major Paul Wilks.
Gary Lefley retweeted
You must watch her documentary. It is really mind blowing
Gary Lefley retweeted
Which Ukrainians is bomber Burnham backing?
Visiting Kyiv last week, the prime minister told Ukrainians that “the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes” - but is he actually listening to them?
In recent polls, Ukrainians favoured negotiations to end the war by 66% to 24% (Gallup) and 75% to 20% (Ashcroft).
Burnham promised change. He should deliver it on Ukraine by building a coalition of the willing for PEACE.
My latest Substack post makes the case: therestisbullshit.substack.c…
Gary Lefley retweeted
This is the last thing we need...
Europe has quite enough warmongers and arms profiteers without Karp and Palantir turning Ukraine into a laboratory for their deadly deeds.
Gary Lefley retweeted
We are asked to believe that Russia is on the verge of collapse, has no fuel, losing unsustainable casualties, about to be defeated by Ukraine.
Also Russia is hugely powerful and about to invade the UK so we must massively increase spending on weapons.
Gary Lefley retweeted
Barking mad Burnham is betraying us.
Not only is he giving away our intellectual property - at the expense of jobs he claimed would be created here - he's putting us in the firing line by supplying Zelensky with the means to escalate the war instead of finding a path to peace.
Gary Lefley retweeted
The "rules" being: when Germany ran one of the world's largest trade surpluses for decades it was called "competitiveness," but when China does it it's "unfair overcapacity."
I'm not even exaggerating, in substance it's basically his stance.
Gary Lefley retweeted
Where is the serious debate in this country about being dragged ever deeper into this war? dailymail.com/news/article-1…
Gary Lefley retweeted
Scott Ritter: The Age of Nuclear War - War On Russia, Iran & China
youtu.be/vTYQ8G5o73Y
Gary Lefley retweeted
If Burnham really backed Ukraine, he'd listen to the Ukrainian people who overwhelmingly want a negotiated settlement.
Instead, he's helping Zelensky escalate the war by supplying drones explicitly for attacks on civilian targets and risking direct conflict with Russia.
Burnham defies Moscow vowing ‘we back Ukraine 100 per cent' after Russia warns Britain over drones
lbc.co.uk/article/burnham-de…
Gary Lefley retweeted
This is pretty hilarious and so illustrative of the insane double standards that official French media have towards Global South countries, China in particular.
These are 2 articles by French state media @franceinfo, published just a few weeks apart.
On the left an article (franceinfo.fr/societe/educat…) that worries about the fact that "nearly 20% of students [in France] do not speak French at home" and treats mandatory French-language schooling as so natural it doesn't even merit discussion.
On the right an article (franceinfo.fr/monde/chine/pe…) on a new Chinese law that aims to teach Mandarin to all Chinese kids: what is perfectly natural in France, they describe in China as a horrifying act of forced assimilation by the "Chinese dictatorship."
Draw your own conclusion...
Gary Lefley retweeted
I've traveled virtually everywhere in China for the past 20 years: never once have I seen this 👇
Once again an idiot that takes something that's maybe in one toilet in the country and generalizes it to "that's how China is." Many such cases...
Gary Lefley retweeted
128 years ago US troops invaded Puerto Rico - and they're still there. The island's such a vital military asset that the US has deployed huge resources in suppressing any resistance to colonial rule.
@LabourOutlook has reviewed my book telling the story:
labouroutlook.org/2026/07/21…
Gary Lefley retweeted
Press Freedom Threatened as U.S. Government Seizes Max Blumenthal's Devices
youtu.be/5j3r3bO6Jh0
Gary Lefley retweeted
I make no apology for having "no stomach" to send conscripted young people to the killing fields of Ukraine or anywhere else.
The real question is whether any European politician has the stomach for the hard yards of diplomacy that can end wars and prevent future ones.
