Sean Rayment

Defence/Security Journalist. Co-host of The Security Podcast. Editor of National Security News. Books: Bomb Hunters; Tales from the Special Forces Club.

[The Spectator 🇺🇸 @TheSpectator]

It’s clear that Western militaries, including the US, believe drone technology is the future. Pentagon officials have requested almost $75 billion in funding to rapidly expand drone capabilities. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has told the Army that every division should have drone capabilities by the end of the year. This is perfectly reasonable, given the changing realities of war. The problem comes in taking this logic to its dangerous conclusion.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a DC thinktank, has gone so far as to suggest substituting US troops for drones. “Imagine that instead of a 1,000-person battalion, there was a 250-person rotational battalion that had a mix of 500 [first-person view] drones and octocopters,” Benjamin Jensen, a director at the thinktank, told Defense News. Jensen suggests that the United States could free up thousands of troops stationed in Europe by replacing them with unmanned aerial vehicles. Such a strategy would be a mistake.

✍️ Sean Rayment

Article: https://t.co/LkmPBPbf4x

[Sean Rayment @SeanRayment]

@dog_rates If that was a British dog it would drunk, starting a fight and abusing cabin staff.

[Sean Rayment @SeanRayment]

Are the SAS victims of a legal witch-hunt? In the latest edition of The Security Podcast, here https://t.co/ztjaNu2vXO, I discuss the controversial subject of Lawfare and its implications for members of the special forces, including those who took part in intelligence-led operations during the Troubles, with Brigadier(Retd) Phil McEvoy. Phil was the former head of Army Operational Law and served as deputy head of the Service Prosecuting Authority. During his 30-year career, he worked closely with the UK Special Forces as legal advisor on many counter-terrorist operations. Recently, the coroner who presided over the inquest into the 1992 Clonoe Ambush, which resulted in four IRA terrorists being shot dead by the SAS, ruled that the killings were unjustified. He has since submitted his findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions. This effectively means that the four SAS veterans who took part in the operation could face criminal charges. So, are these inquests into legacy killings an SAS witch-hunt or the correct application of the law? The Security Podcast is available on Spotify here: https://t.co/ztjaNu2vXO or on Apple Podcasts.

[Sean Rayment @SeanRayment]

@SOEhistory Leonard Ratcliff was a wonderful man and is very much missed.

[Sean Rayment @SeanRayment]

Are SAS soldiers who served in Northern Ireland the victims of a witch hunt?
https://t.co/C5UrPIJ996

[Sean Rayment @SeanRayment]

President Putin has issued an arrest warrant against British journalist Jerome Starkey. His crime? Having the audacity to cross into the Kursk region of Russia from Ukraine and report on the war.
Jerome, who is the The Sun's highly experienced Defence Editor, has been reporting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine since the start of the war. He has spoken to The Security Podcast about his life as a war correspondent and the challenges of war reporting in Ukraine. You can listen to both episodes featuring Jerome on Apple of Spotify here: https://t.co/xZnf1yn6Rk

[Sean Rayment @SeanRayment]

Ever wondered why the British Army is in the state it is in today? Then read Harry Fullerton's piece in the link below. Harry, a former Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, explains what went wrong and why.
https://t.co/Oi5Mj9cyrz

[Luke Harding @lukeharding1968]

Here's a new podcast where I talk about my time in #Russia, harassment by the FSB spy agency and being deported from the country in 2011. Also, why Putin launched his bloody full-scale war in #Ukraine and the latest from the frontline. Thanks @SeanRayment https://t.co/BtTFKIgM8Q

[Sean Rayment @SeanRayment]

The Security Podcast: Was Britain's bloody intervention in Afghanistan worth the cost with 457 service personnel killed in action, over 2,000 wounded, hundreds of whom lost limbs? Major General Charlie Herbert, who completed three tours of duty in the war torn country, gives his views on The Security Podcast. Listen on Spotify or Apple here and please leave your comments: https://t.co/dwrhY4tm62

[Sean Rayment @SeanRayment]

Pub bore. Spot On.
https://t.co/rNnH2dPW7A

[Sean Rayment @SeanRayment]

The Security Podcast's latest episode features best selling author and award winning journalist @lukeharding1968.
Luke was The Guardian's Moscow Bureau Chief from 2007 until 2011, when he was expelled by Putin.
His books include the highly acclaimed "Mafia State", and "Invasion - Russia's Bloody War and Ukraine's Fight for Survival". Podcast available next week. https://t.co/TiWsFnTL9C

[Omer Bartov عومر بَرتوف עמר ברטוב @bartov_omer]

The full interview:
“Moral, Ethical Failure”: Holocaust Scholar Omer Bartov on Israel’s Genocide in Gaza https://t.co/ihkwvot1ZL via @democracynow @nermeendn @democracynow

[Omer Bartov عومر بَرتوف עמר ברטוב @bartov_omer]

Another expert report finds Israel is committing genocide. The West yawns  https://t.co/ZKOdz6l5KB

[Sean Rayment @SeanRayment]

A piece I wrote for the Telegraph on the problem of retaining troops in the armed forces. https://t.co/PoKgJ2CkMl

[Rory Stewart @RoryStewartUK]

People - including @elonmusk - are choosing NOT to see this..

[Carl Bildt @carlbildt]

One can see why the ⁦@netanyahu⁩ 🇮🇱 government profoundly dislikes the independent reporting of ⁦@haaretzcom⁩, but it is a service in the long term interest of 🇮🇱. This piece is as uncomfortable as it is necessary. https://t.co/8PlsIe5dym

[Sean Rayment @SeanRayment]

Want to know what it's like to be a war correspondent reporting from the frontline in Ukraine - have a listen to The Security Podcast with The Sun's @jeromestarkey Podcast available here: https://t.co/jtTH9NcIi2