I have long thought encouraging Haredi Jews to serve with the IDF is vital to the future of Israel. I think it is an issue of rights and privilege. How can you espouse the values of a society when you refuse to fight to defend it.

So pleased my old friend Jim Dowdall will be sharing a stage with James May WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk festival. For those who don’t know Jim (pictured behind Michael Caine) is legendary stuntman whose credits read like a history of British cinema. Get your tickets before they sell out!

10 years since the release of #thepatrol It won ⁦Raindance Film Festival⁩ kind words from ⁦Mark Kermode⁩ and ⁦Peter Bradshaw⁩ It remains as divisive now as 2014. I stand by the script ‘when we left they (Taliban) walked straight back in’

#behindthescenes Marché du Film - films in the pipe - ‘shark warning’ coming to a cinema near you soon?

#behindthescenes Festival de Cannes it is definitely raining. But the sun is coming out later.

This is another, more social post from Marché du Film Festival de Cannes

I’m off to ⁦Marché du Film⁩ - they sent me some social media posts to share - I chose this one rather than the more social one. At least it looks like I’m going to work.

I enjoyed this display in a Waterstones when I noticed I was next to Saul David ‘s SBS. So I stood up SAS. Feel this may be a literary representation of the competition between the units.

Pleased to be included Chalke History Festival along with another #dudleyclarke fan Robert Hutton - we shall be talking D-Day deception - but Clarke will crop up! An interview Aspects of History as a teaser here -

FABULOUS launch of Saul David’s magnificent SKY WARRIORS this evening Hatchards with lovely Arabella Pike Jessie Childs Paul Lay Roger Moorhouse 🇺🇦 Giles Milton Oliver Webb Carter Richard Foreman Antonia Senior clare mulley Keith Lowe Bettany Hughes💙 Dr Daisy Dunn Tom Petch et al🥂

Really great book - development of the Mosquito, behind the lines with SOE - what’s not to like?

One of the best presents I have ever received. Every two months Heywood Hill drops two new hardbacks selected for me. They are fantastic at selecting the eclectic and unusual. What’s in this month’s parcel?

Two old soldiers swinging a lantern. We talk #Bosnia #Genocide #SAS #film and what it’s like returning from operations but it’s not at all miserable. open.spotify.com/episode/5XIwSY…

Absolutely class The Spectator

Excited to share the news that MOSQUITO is about to become a whole lot easier to pick up. The paperback is published on Thursday! It will be, as they say, available in all good bookshops. Or you can pre-order and have it posted through your letter box on publication day ...

Really enjoyed this chat Mister Kindness - two old soldiers swinging a lantern !

No one has fired a ballistic missile in anger until Iran since the V2. Am I right?

Should be good :

My guess is Israel will strike Bushehr - 1. The Russians built it 2. It’s in the Gulf - may just be acceptable to Israel’s allies as an appropriate response 3. Clear signal to Iran not to use ballistic missiles again (or they flatten Iran’s nuclear) 4. It’s easy to hit.

I watched Threads (1984) as a kid and was terrified. I haven’t felt that way until Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel.