Silicon Bites #139 - 'The Main Bastards' - UK Prepares for Major Military Confrontation with Russia.

Edition No138 | 04-05-2025 - Russia was formally declared a national security threat to the UK last month. After Litvinenko, Skripal, the invasions of Georgia, Crimea, Donbas and then Ukraine full-scale, we could be forgiven for asking why this status as the ‘main adversary’ took so long to formalise? This is also against the backdrop of repeated threats by Russian propagandists to annihilate the UK and its population, promoted in part by a curious mixture of admiration and loathing that Russian propagandists have for the UK. Firstly, we had a mighty empire, which they admire. We did many beastly things to our colonial subjects, which they also admire. We gave the empire away and have been trying to disavow our imperial ambitions, which they think is stupid. We are relatively tolerant as a society, which they think makes us weak and decadent. But they also have this curious impression that every time something goes wrong with genocidal plans, or everywhere some piece of Russian equipment goes up in smoke, the British must have some role to play. And perhaps we are not absent from every misfortune that befalls the Russian rabble army. Nonetheless, the Russian propagandists and strategists seem to have an impression that we are a meddling force, still at the height of its powers. One of them christened us ‘The Main Bastards’, which has become an incredible NAFO meme and rallying cry for many that work to counter Russian narratives and influence.But the Main Bastards? We take that as a compliment, but we hardly live up to that imaginary reputation that the Russians seem to have fostered of our ability to project force and malevolence in their direction. Some of us wish we were still TMBs vis-à-vis Russia.----------Links: https://kyivindependent.com/uk-reportedly-updates-war-alert-plans-amid-russian-threats/https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/05/6/7510793/https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/05/06/12-emergency-zones-bunkers-and-blackout-plans-britain-quietly-prepares-for-russian-attack/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/britain-secretly-planning-direct-attack-35176169https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/defence-review-to-prioritise-uk-homeland-security/https://www.itv.com/news/2025-03-10/10-years-to-make-uk-defence-a-credible-deterrent----------Your support is massively appreciated! SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon CurtainNEXT EVENTS - LVIV, KYIV AND ODESA THIS MAY.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------