Transnational Thursday is a thread for people to discuss international news, foreign policy or international relations history. Feel free as well to drop in with coverage of countries you’re interested in, talk about ongoing dynamics like the wars in Israel or Ukraine, or even just whatever you’re reading.
PaperclipPerfector
1mo ago
(text post)
1067 thread views
Transnational Thursday for September 25, 2025
- 23
- 5
What is this place?
This website is a place for people who want to move past shady thinking and test their ideas in a
court of people who don't all share the same biases. Our goal is to
optimize for light, not heat; this is a group effort, and all commentators are asked to do their part.
The weekly Culture War threads host the most
controversial topics and are the most visible aspect of The Motte. However, many other topics are
appropriate here. We encourage people to post anything related to science, politics, or philosophy;
if in doubt, post!
Check out The Vault for an archive of old quality posts.
You are encouraged to crosspost these elsewhere.
Why are you called The Motte?
A motte is a stone keep on a raised earthwork common in early medieval fortifications. More pertinently,
it's an element in a rhetorical move called a "Motte-and-Bailey",
originally identified by
philosopher Nicholas Shackel. It describes the tendency in discourse for people to move from a controversial
but high value claim to a defensible but less exciting one upon any resistance to the former. He likens
this to the medieval fortification, where a desirable land (the bailey) is abandoned when in danger for
the more easily defended motte. In Shackel's words, "The Motte represents the defensible but undesired
propositions to which one retreats when hard pressed."
On The Motte, always attempt to remain inside your defensible territory, even if you are not being pressed.
New post guidelines
If you're posting something that isn't related to the culture war, we encourage you to post a thread for it.
A submission statement is highly appreciated, but isn't necessary for text posts or links to largely-text posts
such as blogs or news articles; if we're unsure of the value of your post, we might remove it until you add a
submission statement. A submission statement is required for non-text sources (videos, podcasts, images).
Culture war posts go in the culture war thread; all links must either include a submission statement or
significant commentary. Bare links without those will be removed.
If in doubt, please post it!
Rules
- Courtesy
- Content
- Engagement
- When disagreeing with someone, state your objections explicitly.
- Proactively provide evidence in proportion to how partisan and inflammatory your claim might be.
- Accept temporary bans as a time-out, and don't attempt to rejoin the conversation until it's lifted.
- Don't attempt to build consensus or enforce ideological conformity.
- Write like everyone is reading and you want them to be included in the discussion.
- The Wildcard Rule
- The Metarule
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
Some headlines I'm reading, comments welcome:
Sanctions on Iran to automatically resume on September 28th. [to do: find link better than Daily Mail]
Qatar Seeks 'israeli' Apology to Restart Gaza Mediation: Report
Drone fired by Yemen's Houthis wounds 22 in southern Israel, in a rare breach of missile defenses
The WHO warns about rapid growth in cholera cases.
China continues to do military exercises & development
El-Fasher: Drone strike on Sudan mosque kills 78, medic tells BBC
France orders hospitals to be ready for war by next year as Germany warns it is on alert should Putin use forthcoming military drills to attack Europe (Daily Mail)
Russia may attack Nato in next four years, German defence chief warns
Germany plans for 1,000 wounded troops per day in case of conflict with Russia
Putin offers Trump one-year extension to nuclear weapons treaty
Drone activity confirmed at multiple Denmark airports
Jihadist groups create 'corridor of violence' targeting Christians in Sahel – Catholic World Report
Isis Kids Planned a Violent 'Caliphate Revival' on Discord back in 2022.
Trump warns Venezuela will pay 'incalculable' price if doesn't take back migrants
Trump warns Venezuela to take back prisoners or face 'incalculable' price
Hamas reportedly preparing for street-to-street fighting as Israeli forces near Gaza City centre
Gaza-bound flotilla says it was attacked by drones, as Italy and Spain send help
Gaza aid flotilla rejects Israel's demand to dock in Ashkelon, calls request part of blockade
10 killed, at least 2 decapitated, in Ecuador prison riot just days after deadly jailbreak
Estimated 16,500 climate change deaths during Europe summer
UK, Canada and Australia announce formal recognition of Palestine, with wave of Israel’s allies to follow | Palestinian territories
Keir Starmer's statement in full on the recognition of Palestine
Last pastor forced out of war-torn Sudanese city, el Fasher
Italy sends naval vessel to help Gaza aid flotilla
Secret Service takes down network that could have crippled New York cell service
Israel strikes Yemen's Sanaa after Houthi drone attack on Eilat
Russia is reportedly selling military equipment, technology, expertise, training to China in China's bid to be able to invade Taiwan by 2027.
The U.S. government announced new and modified contracts worth more than $100M to enhance biodefense preparedness, particularly through procurements from Emergent BioSolutions.
Spanish warship sets sail to support Gaza-bound aid flotilla
Various air force
trials and exercises in China
Senior Hamas official defends ‘high price’ of Oct 7 for Palestinians, saying attack created ‘golden moment’ | CNN
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for an additional six months Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland, effective October 1. This act grants the armed forces broad powers to maintain public order in areas they designate as disturbed
Wait, if it's a drone shouldn't it be "drone defenses"?
As opposed to? They have been street-to-street fighting for the last 2 years. That's the only mode of fighting that is available to them - it's not like they have tanks corps or navy or anything but infantry hidden in the residential neighborhoods. So the headline is "Hamas is reportedly preparing to keep doing what they've been doing for 2 years now". Well, gee, thanks BBC for informing us.
I just wonder, what they are planning to do if they actually reach Gaza? Whatever shit they have on their ships, nobody needs it, Gaza has a lot of supplies going in. I mean sure, a lot of people would be happy to relieve them of the goods and sell them on the nearest market, but then what? Take selfies and back home? Or try to get killed and make a huge stink out of it? What's the game plan? I mean, Israel Navy probably would intercept them, feed them sandwiches and deport them again, like the last time, but I'm just curious what's the idea.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link