geckogamer
@geckogamer.bsky.social
Mostly retweets of (geo)politics and occasional animal or theme park related stuff. Unwilling Anglophile
Reposted by geckogamer
If anyone from SOCOM is lurking here, I offer some theory for your CO while you get your ass covering in order
Samuel Huntington’s Prussian Paradox
Clausewitz, Military Professionalism, and the Myth of a “Apolitical” Military
secretaryrofdefenserock.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:33 PM
If anyone from SOCOM is lurking here, I offer some theory for your CO while you get your ass covering in order
Reposted by geckogamer
Structurally it's also interesting that, as the leak report also notes, the OBR has all these responsibilities but is about the scale of a small to medium-sized business, with a budget of £6.4mn and a team of 52 people, only six in what you'd call 'operations'. Not extending to a full IT department.
December 1, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Structurally it's also interesting that, as the leak report also notes, the OBR has all these responsibilities but is about the scale of a small to medium-sized business, with a budget of £6.4mn and a team of 52 people, only six in what you'd call 'operations'. Not extending to a full IT department.
Reposted by geckogamer
How can an OBR that has torched trust in its competence and capacity fulfil a useful policy-making function?
See also the US Supreme Court.
See also the US Supreme Court.
December 1, 2025 at 6:18 PM
How can an OBR that has torched trust in its competence and capacity fulfil a useful policy-making function?
See also the US Supreme Court.
See also the US Supreme Court.
Reposted by geckogamer
The lesson American military officers have learned today is that under Donald Trump they will always be thrown under the bus to protect MAGA's civilian leaders
REPORTER: Does the administration deny that that second strike happened, or did it happen and the administration denies that Hegseth gave the order?
LEAVITT: The latter. Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. He worked well within his authority and the law.
LEAVITT: The latter. Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. He worked well within his authority and the law.
December 1, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The lesson American military officers have learned today is that under Donald Trump they will always be thrown under the bus to protect MAGA's civilian leaders
Reposted by geckogamer
These kinds of high-level resignations also deflect debate away from more fundamental questions about whether an institution can ever realistically fulfill its supposed purpose
This is fake accountability in my view; scapegoating is still bad when it is a senior leader used as the human shield for the organisation rather than a low level employee. It looks noble but it is not actually helping the organisation - when someone says "I take full responsibility ...
NEW: Richard Hughes resigns from the OBR over budget leak.
Along with BBC leadership, a recent resurgence of people in public service jobs taking responsibility.
Along with BBC leadership, a recent resurgence of people in public service jobs taking responsibility.
December 1, 2025 at 4:55 PM
These kinds of high-level resignations also deflect debate away from more fundamental questions about whether an institution can ever realistically fulfill its supposed purpose
Reposted by geckogamer
So much weight in UK government economic and fiscal policy-making is put on the accuracy of OBR forecasts that if it completely misses risks that trigger a serious crisis any remaining public trust in the state could evaporate
December 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
So much weight in UK government economic and fiscal policy-making is put on the accuracy of OBR forecasts that if it completely misses risks that trigger a serious crisis any remaining public trust in the state could evaporate
Reposted by geckogamer
So Canada can manage to negotiate involvement in the EU's SAFE defence procurement scheme and yet the UK can't
December 1, 2025 at 3:42 PM
So Canada can manage to negotiate involvement in the EU's SAFE defence procurement scheme and yet the UK can't
Reposted by geckogamer
Trump is invading American cities to nominally address crime, and I think the scale of his pardon-sprees should be given more political salience
When this criminal was jailed, the judge told David Gentile and America: ‘This is a warning to would-be fraudsters that seeking to get rich by taking advantage of investors gets you only a one-way ticket to jail.’ I guess not
November 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Trump is invading American cities to nominally address crime, and I think the scale of his pardon-sprees should be given more political salience
Reposted by geckogamer
Looking back to when Haider was at the height of his power between 1990-2000, as a Far Right demagogue he still craved cultural and intellectual bourgeois respectability that acted as an incentive to engage with complex policy and politics debate with friends and enemies.
That is gone now
That is gone now
Not just a UK problem either. Even if you look at the populist Right or Left of European politics in the 1990s, the skill of figures like Jörg Haider or Gregor Gysi at engaging in debate would make them elite policy wonks compared to the intellectual standard of debate now
November 28, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Looking back to when Haider was at the height of his power between 1990-2000, as a Far Right demagogue he still craved cultural and intellectual bourgeois respectability that acted as an incentive to engage with complex policy and politics debate with friends and enemies.
That is gone now
That is gone now
Reposted by geckogamer
Kinnock voice - "I’ll tell you what happens with impossible promises. You start with far-fetched resolutions....and you end up in the grotesque chaos of a Labour government, a *Labour* government, rejecting visas for homeless 8 yr olds trying to joing their parents"
November 28, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Kinnock voice - "I’ll tell you what happens with impossible promises. You start with far-fetched resolutions....and you end up in the grotesque chaos of a Labour government, a *Labour* government, rejecting visas for homeless 8 yr olds trying to joing their parents"
Reposted by geckogamer
We have got to make politics intellectual again. It is the only way that societies thrive is when politicians have the capability to actually think and reflect deeply:
![I confess that I always had difficulty with interpreting the Biblical precept to love our neighbours “as ourselves” until I read some of the words of C.S. Lewis. He pointed out that we don't exactly love ourselves when we fall below the standards and beliefs we have accepted. Indeed we might even hate ourselves for some unworthy deed.
None of this, of course, tells us exactly what kind of political and social institutions we should have. On this point, Christians will very often genuinely disagree, though it is a mark of Christian manners that they will do so with courtesy and mutual respect. [Applause] What is certain, however, is that any set of social and economic arrangements which is not founded on the acceptance of individual responsibility will do nothing but harm.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xbnsfdtxoothg654ujxe3p25/bafkreicrdgbtvm54qnmttwe6crhxwt4be5v3izjmqtnvlxmaljwg5wolai@jpeg)
November 28, 2025 at 12:15 PM
We have got to make politics intellectual again. It is the only way that societies thrive is when politicians have the capability to actually think and reflect deeply:
Reposted by geckogamer
The Labour government after coming in loudly proclaiming that it will squeeze migration numbers to assuage Right wing voters will quickly find itself scrambling to import the skilled migrants that Right wing voters need just like every previous UK government in the last 20 years.
November 28, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The Labour government after coming in loudly proclaiming that it will squeeze migration numbers to assuage Right wing voters will quickly find itself scrambling to import the skilled migrants that Right wing voters need just like every previous UK government in the last 20 years.
Reposted by geckogamer
Labour immigration policy explained:
✅ Net immigration rising: CRACKDOWN REQUIRED
✅ Net immigration plummeting: CRACKDOWN REQUIRED
✅ Net immigration rising: CRACKDOWN REQUIRED
✅ Net immigration plummeting: CRACKDOWN REQUIRED
November 27, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Labour immigration policy explained:
✅ Net immigration rising: CRACKDOWN REQUIRED
✅ Net immigration plummeting: CRACKDOWN REQUIRED
✅ Net immigration rising: CRACKDOWN REQUIRED
✅ Net immigration plummeting: CRACKDOWN REQUIRED
Reposted by geckogamer
Italian Court of Auditors publishes motivations for not authorising Messina Strait bridge project. The Court says the project violates EU Directives on conservation of natural habitats & on public tenders, and lacks evidence on financial sustainability. So, Salvini made a dog's breakfast of it.
Ponte sullo Stretto, i motivi del «no» della Corte dei Conti: «Viola la norma europea habitat»
I magistrati contabili contestano anche le modifiche contrattuali. E resta centrale il nodo del piano tariffario
www.lasicilia.it
November 27, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Italian Court of Auditors publishes motivations for not authorising Messina Strait bridge project. The Court says the project violates EU Directives on conservation of natural habitats & on public tenders, and lacks evidence on financial sustainability. So, Salvini made a dog's breakfast of it.
Reposted by geckogamer
A Ukrainian woman is saying goodbye to her home as the front line approaches.
"The front is getting closer, and today my Mom said goodbye to our home and asked for forgiveness that she won’t be able to go there again until victory," Viktoriia wrote.
📷: asiya666
"The front is getting closer, and today my Mom said goodbye to our home and asked for forgiveness that she won’t be able to go there again until victory," Viktoriia wrote.
📷: asiya666
November 27, 2025 at 5:35 PM
A Ukrainian woman is saying goodbye to her home as the front line approaches.
"The front is getting closer, and today my Mom said goodbye to our home and asked for forgiveness that she won’t be able to go there again until victory," Viktoriia wrote.
📷: asiya666
"The front is getting closer, and today my Mom said goodbye to our home and asked for forgiveness that she won’t be able to go there again until victory," Viktoriia wrote.
📷: asiya666
Reposted by geckogamer
According to a lot of Brit Bluesky at the moment, the way most European societies rely more on judges than juries is apparently a sign of tyranny.
November 27, 2025 at 9:34 AM
According to a lot of Brit Bluesky at the moment, the way most European societies rely more on judges than juries is apparently a sign of tyranny.
Reposted by geckogamer
The implicit assumption that the US Navy, which has not managed to successfully design a frigate in 30 years, has lessons to give to the Italian or French navies is highly amusing.
A lot of people in Italian and French MIC were at times baffled by demands that in their eyes did not substantially contribute to survivability beyond what the Europeans already had with FREMM
November 25, 2025 at 9:33 PM
The implicit assumption that the US Navy, which has not managed to successfully design a frigate in 30 years, has lessons to give to the Italian or French navies is highly amusing.
Reposted by geckogamer
I'd previously seen reports of this in San Diego specifically. I'm assuming they're testing this for a wider rollout, which is horrific. They've always deferred to USCIS to make a decision (in which the overstay is not a factor) before enforcement.
But these are lazy people with arrest quotas.
But these are lazy people with arrest quotas.
ICE arrests, detains British woman with US husband and newborn when she shows up for her green card interview. She’s now in a detention center, separated from her 6-month-old. No criminal record. She had overstayed her visa.
www.lbc.co.uk/article/brit...
www.lbc.co.uk/article/brit...
British mum detained by ICE agents in California as six-month old baby and stunned husband watch on | LBC
Katie Paul, 33, was in the process of applying for a green card when she was ambushed by immigration agents
www.lbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 11:52 AM
I'd previously seen reports of this in San Diego specifically. I'm assuming they're testing this for a wider rollout, which is horrific. They've always deferred to USCIS to make a decision (in which the overstay is not a factor) before enforcement.
But these are lazy people with arrest quotas.
But these are lazy people with arrest quotas.
Reposted by geckogamer
This btw is why the defensive crouch that UK and other European broadcasters have fallen into towards the Trump administration is so crazy. Like many counterparts in US media they've convinced themselves that Trump has a mystical link with the American volk when in reality he is now deeply unpopular
Not least because the current US President is rapidly losing popularity and things will look rather different over the coming year. I hope Bregman’s missing line is at least reinserted in the podcast editions of the lecture.
November 25, 2025 at 12:17 PM
This btw is why the defensive crouch that UK and other European broadcasters have fallen into towards the Trump administration is so crazy. Like many counterparts in US media they've convinced themselves that Trump has a mystical link with the American volk when in reality he is now deeply unpopular
Reposted by geckogamer
Russian peace proposals are flying in big numbers over Ukraine tonight. We have explosions in Kyiv.
November 24, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Russian peace proposals are flying in big numbers over Ukraine tonight. We have explosions in Kyiv.
Reposted by geckogamer
Bodied by my eldest , frankly
November 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Bodied by my eldest , frankly
Reposted by geckogamer
D&D elves: lol you die?? You die of old age?? After like 70 years? Lmao. You're like vermin to us. You're like a shitty animal
Silmarillion elves: you can "die"?? What the FUCK is that??? Where do you GO? Why can't I come??? *foaming at mouth* why the fuck do you get to go to 'Die' and not me
Silmarillion elves: you can "die"?? What the FUCK is that??? Where do you GO? Why can't I come??? *foaming at mouth* why the fuck do you get to go to 'Die' and not me
November 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM
D&D elves: lol you die?? You die of old age?? After like 70 years? Lmao. You're like vermin to us. You're like a shitty animal
Silmarillion elves: you can "die"?? What the FUCK is that??? Where do you GO? Why can't I come??? *foaming at mouth* why the fuck do you get to go to 'Die' and not me
Silmarillion elves: you can "die"?? What the FUCK is that??? Where do you GO? Why can't I come??? *foaming at mouth* why the fuck do you get to go to 'Die' and not me
Reposted by geckogamer
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
NEWS: I spent the past 24 hours going through major MAGA accounts on Twitter, and a bombshell development has become clear: most of the right-wing ecosphere is being fed propaganda from foreign actors.
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
NEWS: Major MAGA Accounts on Twitter Exposed as Foreign Actors
A stunning development over the past 24 hours.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
Reposted by geckogamer
The only beneficiary of the many Witkoff-Dimitriev pacts to bring peace to Ukraine has been Substack
November 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The only beneficiary of the many Witkoff-Dimitriev pacts to bring peace to Ukraine has been Substack
Reposted by geckogamer
CHICAGO TEACHER: "This morning at 7:45, I marked a junior student absent—not because he was sick or overslept. ICE had snatched him up on his way to school. His main priority was getting his reading done for English class." (H/T @CTULocal1)
November 21, 2025 at 8:01 PM
CHICAGO TEACHER: "This morning at 7:45, I marked a junior student absent—not because he was sick or overslept. ICE had snatched him up on his way to school. His main priority was getting his reading done for English class." (H/T @CTULocal1)