Lawrence Freedman

1 week ago | samf.substack.com | Lawrence Freedman

‘Bertie sustained simultaneously a pair of opinions ludicrously incompatible. He held that in fact human affairs were carried on after a most irrational fashion, but that the remedy was quite simply and easy since all we had to do was carry them on rationally.

1 week ago | samf.substack.com | Sam Freedman |Lawrence Freedman

Every few months we offer paying subscribers the chance to ask us questions on any topic you like. Just stick your questions in the comments section of this post, or if you want to remain anonymous email your question to [email protected]. We’ll post our responses next week.

2 weeks ago | samf.substack.com | Lawrence Freedman

I ain't a-saying you treated me unkindYou could've done better but I don't mindYou just kinda wasted my precious timeBut don't think twice, it's all right- Bob DylanDonald Trump’s great push for peace between Russia and Ukraine ended with a whimper. After a two-hour call with Vladimir Putin on 19 May he claimed that a path to an immediate ceasefire had been set. Unfortunately, the only thing that was immediate was Putin contradicting his claim.

3 weeks ago | justsecurity.org | Lawrence Freedman |Janina Dill

International law requires Russia to cease its more than ten-year long aggression against Ukraine and its other illegal activity. It also requires Russia to compensate Ukraine and Ukrainians for the damage it has caused. These legal principles are supported by a number of decisions of the International Court of Justice and the U.N. General Assembly. Without its consent, however, the mechanisms for bringing international legal responsibility to Russia are limited.

3 weeks ago | justsecurity.org | Lawrence Freedman |Janina Dill

I would like to start by presenting a perspective of how a small country like Singapore sees the world around us. As a small country without hinterland and with no natural resources, our survival is contingent on being able to connect and make ourselves relevant to the world. Trade is three times our GDP; that is the extent to which we are connected to the rest of the world.