Becca Lucas
@beccalpaine.bsky.social
PhD candidate at KCL studying defence industry through the manufacture of UAVs. Turkish policy wonk in my spare time. Formerly of RAND Europe and RUSI. All opinions my own.
How it ended! It may not have been a time to write home about - but this body can do 26.2 miles! Didn’t hurt that it was running through the best and most beautiful city in the world….
November 5, 2025 at 5:23 PM
How it ended! It may not have been a time to write home about - but this body can do 26.2 miles! Didn’t hurt that it was running through the best and most beautiful city in the world….
How it started…..
November 2, 2025 at 5:05 AM
How it started…..
Reposted by Becca Lucas
At a certain point in Turkey, virtually every non-public person I interviewed refused to give their last name. Eventually I stopped even writing "______ declined to give his/her last name for fear of government reprisal," because it became redundant, and editors understood. But here's the thing...
October 26, 2025 at 2:14 PM
At a certain point in Turkey, virtually every non-public person I interviewed refused to give their last name. Eventually I stopped even writing "______ declined to give his/her last name for fear of government reprisal," because it became redundant, and editors understood. But here's the thing...
Reposted by Becca Lucas
Find a No Kings protest Saturday and go!
Don't worry that you've never been to a protest before. Don't worry about being dressed wrong or looking out of place. Don't worry that you don't agree about everything -- or even about much -- with lots of people at the protest.
/1
Don't worry that you've never been to a protest before. Don't worry about being dressed wrong or looking out of place. Don't worry that you don't agree about everything -- or even about much -- with lots of people at the protest.
/1
October 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Find a No Kings protest Saturday and go!
Don't worry that you've never been to a protest before. Don't worry about being dressed wrong or looking out of place. Don't worry that you don't agree about everything -- or even about much -- with lots of people at the protest.
/1
Don't worry that you've never been to a protest before. Don't worry about being dressed wrong or looking out of place. Don't worry that you don't agree about everything -- or even about much -- with lots of people at the protest.
/1
Reposted by Becca Lucas
this is a very very big story because of the apparently totally fake story ICE/DHS put out about what happened.
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.
trib.al
October 6, 2025 at 11:44 PM
this is a very very big story because of the apparently totally fake story ICE/DHS put out about what happened.
Reposted by Becca Lucas
Minna hits nail again 👇
"This does not mean that European countries should not be resilient, but simply that resilience is a defensive measure, not a way to deter such attacks. Russia has, unfortunately, not gotten bored with finding new and creative ways to poke around. It is a whack-a-mole game."
"This does not mean that European countries should not be resilient, but simply that resilience is a defensive measure, not a way to deter such attacks. Russia has, unfortunately, not gotten bored with finding new and creative ways to poke around. It is a whack-a-mole game."
October 5, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Minna hits nail again 👇
"This does not mean that European countries should not be resilient, but simply that resilience is a defensive measure, not a way to deter such attacks. Russia has, unfortunately, not gotten bored with finding new and creative ways to poke around. It is a whack-a-mole game."
"This does not mean that European countries should not be resilient, but simply that resilience is a defensive measure, not a way to deter such attacks. Russia has, unfortunately, not gotten bored with finding new and creative ways to poke around. It is a whack-a-mole game."
Reposted by Becca Lucas
‘The appeal to the mystical image of the “warfighter” is that it avoids having to discuss war in concrete terms. It sells the attractive myth that by doing more of the parts of war that look cool and really make you feel like a man, you can actually win wars.‘
www.deadcarl.com/p/clausewitz...
www.deadcarl.com/p/clausewitz...
October 1, 2025 at 5:04 PM
‘The appeal to the mystical image of the “warfighter” is that it avoids having to discuss war in concrete terms. It sells the attractive myth that by doing more of the parts of war that look cool and really make you feel like a man, you can actually win wars.‘
www.deadcarl.com/p/clausewitz...
www.deadcarl.com/p/clausewitz...
Reposted by Becca Lucas
The Turkish Foreign Minister's remarks about the difficulties Turkey is facing in procuring the engines for its KAAN fighter jet are a well-known story among those who work in the Turkish defence industry. One of the projects funded by our CATS Network dealt with the question in detail.
October 1, 2025 at 5:38 AM
The Turkish Foreign Minister's remarks about the difficulties Turkey is facing in procuring the engines for its KAAN fighter jet are a well-known story among those who work in the Turkish defence industry. One of the projects funded by our CATS Network dealt with the question in detail.
Reposted by Becca Lucas
People of Illinois, we need your help.
Get your cell phones out – record what you see. Put it on social media. Peacefully ask for badge numbers and identification. Speak up for your neighbors.
We need to let the world know this is happening – and that we won’t stand for it.
Get your cell phones out – record what you see. Put it on social media. Peacefully ask for badge numbers and identification. Speak up for your neighbors.
We need to let the world know this is happening – and that we won’t stand for it.
September 30, 2025 at 2:47 AM
People of Illinois, we need your help.
Get your cell phones out – record what you see. Put it on social media. Peacefully ask for badge numbers and identification. Speak up for your neighbors.
We need to let the world know this is happening – and that we won’t stand for it.
Get your cell phones out – record what you see. Put it on social media. Peacefully ask for badge numbers and identification. Speak up for your neighbors.
We need to let the world know this is happening – and that we won’t stand for it.
Reposted by Becca Lucas
A letter from the front in Portland....
September 28, 2025 at 9:39 PM
A letter from the front in Portland....
Reposted by Becca Lucas
In which a top US Border Patrol official, incredibly, tells my tall and Anglo colleague @chipmitchell1.bsky.social that he's not the type they're looking for as they go about downtown Chicago arresting people based on "how they look"
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Feds in military gear flood downtown Chicago; top border official says arrests based on 'how they look'
The immigration agents were spotted making arrests in downtown Chicago and River North neighborhood early Sunday.
chicago.suntimes.com
September 28, 2025 at 11:49 PM
In which a top US Border Patrol official, incredibly, tells my tall and Anglo colleague @chipmitchell1.bsky.social that he's not the type they're looking for as they go about downtown Chicago arresting people based on "how they look"
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
It is hard to articulate how it feels to watch not only the city where I built the first phase of my adult life, but now the city where I grew up overtaken by masked men in fatigues with long guns. This is the opposite of everything that could ever make America great #chicago #stopICE
September 29, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Reposted by Becca Lucas
Yes, this is really, really bad.
September 25, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Yes, this is really, really bad.
Reposted by Becca Lucas
Today’s Trump–Erdoğan meeting underscored how dependent Turkey remains on the West for its defense needs, and on the East for its energy needs.
Despite claims at home and abroad that Ankara’s expanding indigenous defense sector makes it ‘strategically autonomous,’++
Despite claims at home and abroad that Ankara’s expanding indigenous defense sector makes it ‘strategically autonomous,’++
September 25, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Today’s Trump–Erdoğan meeting underscored how dependent Turkey remains on the West for its defense needs, and on the East for its energy needs.
Despite claims at home and abroad that Ankara’s expanding indigenous defense sector makes it ‘strategically autonomous,’++
Despite claims at home and abroad that Ankara’s expanding indigenous defense sector makes it ‘strategically autonomous,’++
A last lazy long run before marathon training starts in earnest! And a beautiful fall day for it
September 21, 2025 at 4:39 PM
A last lazy long run before marathon training starts in earnest! And a beautiful fall day for it
Reposted by Becca Lucas
So Trump tells Europeans to increase their defence budgets & buy more US kit, & the Pentagon tells them they can’t have it. Maybe it’s time for Europe to stop thinking it can rely on the US, & start investing in a rapid build-up of domestic arms production, even if it’s slightly lower quality.
The Pentagon has blocked certain arms sales to Europe after identifying some weapons as being in short supply, Vivian Salama reports. If the hold is long-term, it risks weakening European “defenses at a time when Russia poses an imminent threat.”
The U.S. Is Quietly Pausing Some Arms Sales to Europe
As part of the “America First” agenda, the Department of Defense is stockpiling weapons.
bit.ly
September 19, 2025 at 6:45 PM
So Trump tells Europeans to increase their defence budgets & buy more US kit, & the Pentagon tells them they can’t have it. Maybe it’s time for Europe to stop thinking it can rely on the US, & start investing in a rapid build-up of domestic arms production, even if it’s slightly lower quality.
Reposted by Becca Lucas
I'd just highlight again that this is precisely how Erdogan did it in Turkey.
It's jarring to me how many people don't actually understand why CBS, ABC et al settled these suits with Trump. A big diversified corporation had a limitless number of regulatory touch points with the federal government. They need a President who is at least not actively trying to hurt them.
September 16, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I'd just highlight again that this is precisely how Erdogan did it in Turkey.
A question: for years I have wanted to do the Istanbul marathon. This fall seems like a good opportunity for a variety of reasons. However I’m also conscious of what’s currently going on politically in Istanbul. Is it insensitive to go as a tourist right now?
September 13, 2025 at 10:46 AM
A question: for years I have wanted to do the Istanbul marathon. This fall seems like a good opportunity for a variety of reasons. However I’m also conscious of what’s currently going on politically in Istanbul. Is it insensitive to go as a tourist right now?
After COVID (and turning 30) my body changed. I had to change my mindset and learn to love my body again. To do that I focused on what my body can DO rather than what it looks like - and it can run a half marathon! #tallinnhalfmarathon
September 13, 2025 at 10:25 AM
After COVID (and turning 30) my body changed. I had to change my mindset and learn to love my body again. To do that I focused on what my body can DO rather than what it looks like - and it can run a half marathon! #tallinnhalfmarathon
Reposted by Becca Lucas
From Princeton Professor of Politics and International Affairs, @jshapiro.bsky.social.
September 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
From Princeton Professor of Politics and International Affairs, @jshapiro.bsky.social.
Reposted by Becca Lucas
We are witnessing the destruction of the remnants of Turkey’s already agonizing parliamentary democracy, as police forces occupy the Istanbul headquarters of the main opposition party, firing tear gas and plastic bullets both inside and outside against party members, MPs, and protesters.
September 8, 2025 at 11:56 AM
We are witnessing the destruction of the remnants of Turkey’s already agonizing parliamentary democracy, as police forces occupy the Istanbul headquarters of the main opposition party, firing tear gas and plastic bullets both inside and outside against party members, MPs, and protesters.
Reposted by Becca Lucas
In front of main opposition CHP’s Istanbul HQ, police tear-gassed opposition MPs resisting the government’s move to replace the party’s elected officials with hand-picked trustees. Erdoğan is lifting a page from Putin’s playbook—ensuring the opposition is obedient and his hold on power is permanent.
CHP İstanbul İl Başkanlığı önünde polisler ile milletvekilleri arasında tartışma
Suat Özçağdaş: "CHP’yi işgal edemezsin"
www.birgun.net/haber/chp-is...
Suat Özçağdaş: "CHP’yi işgal edemezsin"
www.birgun.net/haber/chp-is...
CHP İstanbul İl Binası polis ablukasında: Yurttaşların geçişine izin verilmiyor
CHP İstanbul İl Başkanlığı'na kayyum olarak atanan Gürsel Tekin'in pazartesi günü binaya gideceğini açıklamasının ardından 7 Eylül Pazar akşamı için CHP binasında toplanma çağrısı yapılınca polis bina...
www.birgun.net
September 8, 2025 at 11:07 AM
In front of main opposition CHP’s Istanbul HQ, police tear-gassed opposition MPs resisting the government’s move to replace the party’s elected officials with hand-picked trustees. Erdoğan is lifting a page from Putin’s playbook—ensuring the opposition is obedient and his hold on power is permanent.
Every time I’m about to delete X, I’m reminded that - as great as BlueSky is - it’s quite limited outside of English-language sources especially Turkish (unless I’m missing something?). To follow the rest of the world I unfortunately think I need to stay on X….
September 8, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Every time I’m about to delete X, I’m reminded that - as great as BlueSky is - it’s quite limited outside of English-language sources especially Turkish (unless I’m missing something?). To follow the rest of the world I unfortunately think I need to stay on X….
Reposted by Becca Lucas
While the Trump administration tries to cancel offshore wind for "national security" reasons, here's the CEO of Ukraine's largest private energy company
September 7, 2025 at 11:41 PM
While the Trump administration tries to cancel offshore wind for "national security" reasons, here's the CEO of Ukraine's largest private energy company
Reposted by Becca Lucas
Help me with some math/logic. If you add up the following, what do you get?
1. “We can simply declare against all evidence that drug gangs are terrorists.”
1. “We can simply declare against all evidence that drug gangs are terrorists.”
September 8, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Help me with some math/logic. If you add up the following, what do you get?
1. “We can simply declare against all evidence that drug gangs are terrorists.”
1. “We can simply declare against all evidence that drug gangs are terrorists.”