Why Soviet-Style Military Spending—and State Intervention—Won’t Save Russia In Russia, the tradition of making fun of Soviet economic planning is almost as old as attempts to improve the economic system. “What would happen if socialism were built in the Sahara?” an old joke asks. The answer: “At first, except for …

Why people should stop talking about conscription. Somewhere among the detritus left in the wake of the erratic and shambolic western response to the Ukraine crisis, you have probably spotted the idea of re-introducing some kind of conscription, or national military service. The politest thing one can say about this …

ISIS carried out at least 29 confirmed attacks in June in the Homs, Hama, Raqqa, Deir Ez Zor, and Aleppo governorates. These attacks killed at least 49 pro-Assad regime soldiers and two civilian and wounded at least 23 more soldiers and civilians. There were also 12 high quality* attacks carried …