Silicon Bites Ep294 | 2026-03-01 | Russia is the best ally, until things get real, and a response is requested. Is Putin ‘ghosting’ the Iranian regime, and reneging on mutual security commitments? What is the value of an alliances when one side weasels out in the moment of dire need? And are the U.S. and Russia vying to see who can be the very worst of allies within their circle of ‘partners’? Russia seeming to dump Iran also brings up the question of whether security guarantees mean anything at all in this post-truth, post-order world. Geopolitics is purely transactional, and it seems that all alliances are contingent – no commitments solid or binding. Ukraine should also take note – that agreements and treaties mean nothing to Russia, and perhaps the U.S. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------SOURCES:Reuters on Putin’s response and absence of mutual defence clause (March 1, 2026). Reuters on Hormuz / market risk and Russian warning (March 1, 2026). AP on Russia’s condemnation, Lavrov–Araghchi call, UNSC push (Feb 28, 2026). Reuters on Russia suspending flights amid escalation (Feb 28, 2026). ISW assessment of Russia’s “boilerplate” condemnation and strategic limits (Feb 28, 2026). AK&M on ratification law + treaty clause summary (Feb 28, 2026).Interfax treaty clause text (Apr 16, 2025) (background). Foreign Policy on treaty not being a mutual defence pact (Feb 27, 2026) (background framing). The Guardian reporting on the opening strikes and regional escalation (Feb 28, 2026). ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa 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. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. 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----------

2026-02-28 | UPDATES #141 | War Without the Vote: US–Israel strikes on Iran, the law they skipped, and the Ukraine knock-on effects. It’s Saturday 28 February 2026 and the U.S. is at war with Iran. It finally happened. The United States has launched strikes on Iran alongside Israel — and the White House is calling this “major combat operations.” Is this an unambiguous declaration of war, or something more akin to the Russian phrase SVO “special military operation?”Here’s the issue: this is an act that looks and feels like war — without the constitutional process and indeed ritual that’s supposed to precede war. No vote. No mandate. No consultation with lawmakers even – which would usually be the minimal possible bar to meet before any such operation. No coalition of allies you can point to and say, “this is collective security.” Just jets, missiles, and the drama of one criminal regime attacking another.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv this week, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in January 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: Reuters (Feb 28, 2026): Israel “pre-emptive” strike; US strikes underway The Guardian (Feb 28, 2026): US–Israel joint attack; legality concerns; live updates Washington Post live updates (Feb 28, 2026): airspace closure reporting Axios (Feb 28, 2026): Jeffries / Davidson reactions Statement from Sen. Adam Schiff War Powers Resolution (48-hour report requirement; 60-day limit) (Justia Law)2001 AUMF; 2002 Iraq AUMF (Congress.gov) (United Nations)UN Charter Article 51 (self-defence) (Congress.gov)Legal analysis: TIME explainer; EJIL:Talk! critique (Congress.gov)Newsweek (Feb 25, 2026): regional partners denying basing/launchpad accessKyiv Independent (Feb 28, 2026): Zelensky reaction; Iran–Russia support monitoring (Foreign Policy Research Institute)Reuters (Feb 25–26, 2026): Russia budget stress / oil revenues context CSIS: missile defence inventory constraints (background)Financial Times / Washington Post: US munitions & stockpile concerns (background)----------

Gen. David H. Petraeus is a retired four-star general and former Director of the CIA (2011–2012). In uniform, he led multiple high-profile commands, including the Iraq “surge”, U.S. Central Command, and the NATO/coalition mission in Afghanistan. After government service, he moved into the private sector and is currently Chair of the KKR Global Institute. In the last two years, Petraeus has been one of the most persistent establishment voices arguing the West should increase support for Ukraine rather than manage the war to “avoid escalation.” At the Kyiv Security Forum in February 2025, he argued there was bipartisan U.S. support to keep backing Ukraine, praised Ukraine’s battlefield innovation — especially in unmanned systems — and noted it was his fifth trip to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion.----------LINKS:https://www.rusi.org/people/petraeushttps://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpetraeus/https://www.kkr.com/about/our-people/david-h-petraeushttps://www.centcom.mil/ABOUT-US/LEADERSHIP/Bio-Article-View/Article/904777/david-howell-petraeus/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv this week, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in January 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtain?Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------