Mark Bell's Avatar

Mark Bell

@marksbell

Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Minneota, mostly studying nuclear weapons, international security, and US foreign policy. Opinions mine. www.markbell.org

1,635
Followers
1,127
Following
33
Posts
25.09.2023
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by Mark Bell @marksbell

Preview
Fragments of U.S.-Made Missile Seen in Photos Taken by Iran Near Deadly School Strike

'Made in USA' and Department of Defense codes imprinted on weapons fragments used to make American Tomahawks and seen in photos by Iran near bombed school. Latest story w/ @trbrtc.bsky.social and @johnismay.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/w...

10.03.2026 10:17 πŸ‘ 274 πŸ” 145 πŸ’¬ 12 πŸ“Œ 10
Preview
North Korea Is Getting Serious About Space Weapons The new chapter in defense planning seems like a direct response to Trump’s Golden Dome.

My latest in @foreignpolicy.com: with a war in the Middle East, the world appears to have missed that North Korea is now officially getting into the space weapons game (with strong incentives to put nukes in space). My analysis: foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/09/n...

09.03.2026 15:49 πŸ‘ 79 πŸ” 45 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 3
Preview
Exclusive: AI Error Likely Led to Iran Girl's School Bombing Pentagon investigators believe a bombing of a girls' school in Iran on Saturday likely resulted from inaccurate information provided by AI.

Local Massachusetts weekly says it's confirmed that the Pentagon was relying on Claude for strike targeting, which is how they came to bomb a girls' school.
thisweekinworcester.com/exclusive-ai...

07.03.2026 15:22 πŸ‘ 1157 πŸ” 601 πŸ’¬ 90 πŸ“Œ 285

It sounds like there’s a sort of low-level war going on in Iraq that hasn’t been fully reported

An Iraqi friend tells me that Iranian-backed militias are attacking various targets across Iraq, and U.S. and Israeli forces are hitting back. They say this is happening more widely than whatβ€˜s reported

08.03.2026 19:35 πŸ‘ 34 πŸ” 17 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

Genuine question: should dispersal be understood to increase survivability if the dispersal is to countries closer to the presumed front line of any conventional conflict? (and therefore the dispersed assets are presumably more vulnerable/more attractive targets than they would otherwise be)

03.03.2026 16:52 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Polish sources have the final sentence as "As our own autonomous capabilities grow, we will also strive to prepare Poland in the future for the most autonomous actions *possible* in this matter."

In any case, this is proper nuclear hedging talk.

www.polskieradio.pl/399/7975/Art...

03.03.2026 15:01 πŸ‘ 30 πŸ” 15 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
Macron opens door to deploying French nuclear forces to European allies The plan is a β€œmajor evolution” of France’s deterrence posture, the president said in a long-awaited speech at the Île Longue naval base in Brittany.

In any normal week this would be a huge story. France moves toward extending a nuclear umbrella over European allies-- a major sign of declining credibility of US extended deterrence.
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

03.03.2026 12:47 πŸ‘ 227 πŸ” 88 πŸ’¬ 8 πŸ“Œ 7
Preview
Poland seeks as much autonomy as possible in terms of nuclear arms, Tusk says Poland wants to be autonomous in the future when ​it comes to a nuclear deterrent, Prime β€ŒMinister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday, as Europe seeks to build its capabilities independently of the United St...

Tusk: "We ​are investing heavily in future nuclear power plants, and ​Poland will not want to be passive when it comes to nuclear security in a military context."

"We will cooperate with our allies...as our capabilities increase, β€Œwe ⁠will try to prepare Poland for autonomous action in this matter."

03.03.2026 14:40 πŸ‘ 57 πŸ” 38 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 18

I'm just reading the speech and I am not sure if US nuclear sharing/foreign nuclear deployments are the right way to think about the dispersal of French strategic air force assets. At least to me, I understand it more as a dispersal concept to increase survivability, like Agile Combat Employment.

02.03.2026 20:27 πŸ‘ 18 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 3
Preview
Eurodeterrent: A Vision for an Anglo-French Nuclear Force Recently published Signal discussions in which senior Trump administration officials admit they β€œhate bailing out” America’s β€œpathetic” European allies

Thinking back to my proposal of an Anglo-French nuclear deterrent for Europe that I wrote last March.

Macron's scheme is naturally less expansive, but Rome wasn't built in a day and his speech was a big step in the right direction.

02.03.2026 16:58 πŸ‘ 23 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

French President Emmanuel Macron has just given a truly remarkable speech on France's nuclear policy at a moment of great anxiety in Europe. I wanted to offer an early comment. Welcome to the age of 'Dissuasion AvancΓ©e' in Europe.

New post: panda.substack.com/p/dissuasion...

02.03.2026 15:31 πŸ‘ 136 πŸ” 56 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 6

Interesting from an institutional standpoint: France-UK Nuclear Steering Group was first & could be seen as unique arrangement between Europe's two nuclear powers.

France-Germany NSG could create a new dynamic: France as central node of Euro nuclear-consultative mechanisms with UK, Germany, others.

02.03.2026 16:05 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Rash: Trump should level with Americans about Iran Trump missed the chance in his State of the Union address Tuesday night to offer clarity to the country about America’s military buildup in the Middle East, John Rash writes.

Professors Ron Krebs and Mark Bell @marksbell.bsky.social are quoted by the @startribune.com, discussing Trump's missed opportunity to offer clarity to the country about America's military buildup.
www.startribune.com/trump-sotu-a...

26.02.2026 16:17 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Delighted to review @nktpnd.bsky.social's excellent and important book The New Nuclear Age for Ethics and International Affairs #nukesky www.cambridge.org/core/service...

25.02.2026 15:33 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

This is the aftermath of an ICE kidnapping a few blocks from my home in St. Paulβ€”an hour ago. A quiet street full of broken glass and at least three wrecked cars. The target of the kidnapping was taken away by ambulance. He was on a stretcher and covered by a sheet, though a cop said he was alive.

11.02.2026 16:46 πŸ‘ 11390 πŸ” 6552 πŸ’¬ 274 πŸ“Œ 624

1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.

Hundreds of kids are still detained.

We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧡

09.02.2026 12:25 πŸ‘ 11589 πŸ” 7433 πŸ’¬ 202 πŸ“Œ 829
Post image Post image

So, I spent many many years working on my book, and it coincidentally comes out the same week as the end of the New START Treaty.Β Β In print from Cambridge University Press next week, and ebook is online now. www.cambridge.org/vaynman or on Amazon: a.co/d/0brNOTKq

04.02.2026 16:14 πŸ‘ 18 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 1

Congratulations!

04.02.2026 18:27 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

In my opinion these people are the real heroes of the resistance to ICE. There’s no credit, no one can talk about their work (because they directly contact vulnerable families). It’s expensive and dreary and neverending. ICE follows them around. But they refuse to abandon their neighbors

04.02.2026 17:26 πŸ‘ 1592 πŸ” 285 πŸ’¬ 18 πŸ“Œ 5
lizzie johnson
@lizziejohnsonnn
Β·
49m
I was just laid off by The Washington Post in the middle of a warzone. I have no words. I'm devastated.
Quote
lizzie johnson
@lizziejohnsonnn
Β·
Jan 25
Waking up without power, heat, or running water. (Again.) 

But the work here in Kyiv continues. Warming up in the car, writing in pencil β€” pen ink freezes β€” by headlamp.

lizzie johnson @lizziejohnsonnn Β· 49m I was just laid off by The Washington Post in the middle of a warzone. I have no words. I'm devastated. Quote lizzie johnson @lizziejohnsonnn Β· Jan 25 Waking up without power, heat, or running water. (Again.) But the work here in Kyiv continues. Warming up in the car, writing in pencil β€” pen ink freezes β€” by headlamp.

INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.

04.02.2026 17:11 πŸ‘ 9806 πŸ” 4412 πŸ’¬ 206 πŸ“Œ 428
Video thumbnail

happening this morning in Minneapolis -- ICE agents drawing guns on observers. I reiterate again that it is only a matter of time before DHS kills more innocent people in Minnesota. Congress needs to shut this shit down right now.

03.02.2026 16:19 πŸ‘ 43240 πŸ” 19357 πŸ’¬ 2398 πŸ“Œ 1614
Rethinking the Deterrence-Disarmament Dichotomy: The Complex Landscape of Global Nuclear Weapons Preferences | Perspectives on Politics | Cambridge Core Rethinking the Deterrence-Disarmament Dichotomy: The Complex Landscape of Global Nuclear Weapons Preferences

In this new open access article in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social, co-authored by @laurensukin.bsky.social and @herzogsm.bsky.social, we present evidence that challenges key assumptions about nuclear politics.

28.01.2026 15:47 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

PhD submitted.

I will save the grand speech for after the (hopefully successful) defense, but for now let me just say that I am incredibly grateful to everyone who supported me along the way, first and foremost my PhD supervisors.

1/2

01.02.2026 23:01 πŸ‘ 137 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 9 πŸ“Œ 1

so proud of my community, metro, and state. ICE out now.

30.01.2026 22:26 πŸ‘ 22 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Good news: surprise Springsteen show at your favorite local music venue. Bad news: shit's so fucked where you live that Bruce Springsteen wrote a song about it

30.01.2026 22:11 πŸ‘ 525 πŸ” 115 πŸ’¬ 6 πŸ“Œ 2
Preview
Minnesotans just showed they’ll β€˜crawl over broken glass’ to vote, despite ICE terror If Trump sends troops to disrupt voting, he could face a massive backlash

What would happen if Trump tried to send troops to disrupt the midterms? Undaunted voters in the Twin Cities just gave us an answer: It could backfire very, very badly.

New from The Downballot: A wild overperformance in St. Paul shows Minnesotans will "crawl over broken glass" to voteβ€”despite ICE.

30.01.2026 17:04 πŸ‘ 485 πŸ” 190 πŸ’¬ 14 πŸ“Œ 6
Preview
Live: U.S. opens civil rights investigation in Alex Pretti’s death President Trump labeled Pretti an β€œagitator” after new video showed the Minneapolis man clashing with federal agents.

A judge has ordered the release of Twin Cities independent journalist Georgia Fort this afternoon, rejecting the U.S. government’s claims that her allegations constitute a crime of violence that necessitate keeping her detained.

30.01.2026 20:50 πŸ‘ 2092 πŸ” 665 πŸ’¬ 26 πŸ“Œ 36
Post image

Chris Rufo is so upset about the Minneapolis protests that he is resorting to anti-Nordic racism christopherrufo.com/p/the-curse-...

30.01.2026 17:30 πŸ‘ 4209 πŸ” 924 πŸ’¬ 450 πŸ“Œ 810
Preview
Instagram Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.

Here's a full version of "Streets of Minneapolis" by Bruce Springsteen on stage at First Avenue. ICE OUT NOW! www.instagram.com/p/DUJd_KiCRsk/

30.01.2026 20:30 πŸ‘ 41 πŸ” 17 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
Video thumbnail

Bruce Springsteen performs β€˜Streets of Minneapolis’ for the first time in Minnesota at First Avenue 🎢

πŸŽ₯: @chrisrstrib.bsky.social

30.01.2026 20:08 πŸ‘ 1095 πŸ” 398 πŸ’¬ 27 πŸ“Œ 24