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petemonks.bsky.social
Boring Australian suburban dad. Recipient of participation awards for Kosovo, East Timor, Afghanistan and a few other things and places. Militantly centrist and firmly opposed to authoritarianism. Going by @Pete_Monks back at the old place. #NGFHQ
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CJCS Brown and CNO Franchetti getting sacked for no good reason (okay, I know, we all know the REAL reason) is the least surprising development of Hegseth’s tenure as Trump’s SECDEF so far.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Today’s #histbookchat and #photofriday contribution - I have admired Joan Didion’s essays for a while, but I didn’t know anything about Eve Babitz’s writing until I started this slightly gossipy but surprisingly entertaining and engrossing book by Lili Anolik. I might have to try some Babitz now.

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Movies you've watched more than six times, gifs only

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Not the metaphor we wanted, but the metaphor we needed

submitted 3 days ago • 2 comments

“Be careful. When a democracy is sick, fascism comes to its bedside, but it is not to inquire about its health.” Albert Camus

submitted 9 days ago • 81 comments

“The thing that I can’t get over is that the actual richest man in the world directed my fucking firing. I make $50k a year and work to keep drinking water safe. The richest man in the world decided that was an expense too great for the American taxpayer.”

submitted 7 days ago • 382 comments

Another really interesting read by @sodrock.bsky.social Kasserine Pass started really badly for the US (try looking at those ad-hoc groupings and dispositions and the command dysfunction without thinking of Gazala), but after the opening engagements lower level US commanders generally did well 1/2

submitted 8 days ago • 1 comment

For today’s #histbookchat and #photofriday, an account of one of the more obscure campaigns of WW2.

submitted 9 days ago • 2 comments

If you see this, quote post with a beach photo from your gallery if you have one

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

I used to shill THE HARDEST PLACE all the time over at the old place. One of the most thought-provoking books I have ever read about our war in Afghanistan, but also about how military culture shapes tactics and operations. In this sense it reminds me of Andrew Gordon’s RULES OF THE GAME.

submitted 10 days ago • 1 comment

This is starting to look a bit like the Hitler Oath, isn’t it?

submitted 14 days ago • 2 comments

It’s got to be the new US SECDEF, so I guess @elongreen.bsky.social and I are in the same boat.

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

For today’s #histbookchat and #photofriday, I finished “Desert Fire” (a Royal Artillery Battery Commander’s account of his service in the Gulf War) early in the week, and have just started “The MiG Diaries”, which is the first account of the 1980s Angolan fighting that includes a Cuban perspective.

submitted 16 days ago • 0 comments

The great father-daughter drive to 22YO’s new job is over - made it to Mt Isa this afternoon even after a big detour thanks to flooded roads west of Winton.

submitted 16 days ago • 0 comments

Early finish to Day 2 of the great adventure drive to 22YO daughter’s new job and home

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

Ever think about how most all the big political actors and dictators of the 20th century personally experienced the horrors of war and bloodshed? Meanwhile, we’re watching a U.S. coup carried out by men who have lived lives softer than that of your average inbred French Bulldog in a sweater.

submitted 18 days ago • 60 comments

After 750 km, have finished the first day of driving to 22YO daughter’s new job and home in Mt Isa. Two more days of driving to go!

submitted 18 days ago • 1 comment

This is really worth a read. My quick take? 1. Generally speaking, theres a good chance the British Empire doesn’t enter the war if Belgium isn’t threatened. Especially mid to late 1914, with a reluctant Liberal government and the Army-Ulster constitutional crisis as a major distraction.

submitted 21 days ago • 1 comment

Jesus, it only seems like yesterday that I thought a NYT subscription was money well spent.

submitted 24 days ago • 0 comments