Monthly Archives: December 2025

The idea of renovating the Soviet Union originated not with Mikhail Gorbachev, but with his mentor Yuri Andropov. For years after the Soviet collapse, many said wistfully: “If only Andropov had lived longer.” They meant that under his leadership the … Continue reading →

The purpose of this book is neither to demonise Putin – he is more than capable of doing that himself – nor to absolve him of his crimes, but to explore his personality, to understand what motivates him and how … Continue reading →

Jacques Baud in Berliner Zeitung: Die Anschuldigung, ich würde an der Umsetzung von Politiken arbeiten, die in Moskau festgelegt werden, ist reine Verleumdung. Ich werde beschuldigt, für Aktivitäten verantwortlich zu sein, von denen man nicht einmal weiß, ob sie Russland … Continue reading →

The EU is sanctioning the retired Swiss Army Col. and previous NATO advisor Jacques Baud. The reason: Baud is spreading Russian propaganda, the EU says. EU sanctions are not part of the judicial branch. They are punishments coming straight from … Continue reading →

In addition to the €16.50 ticket fee, there is a wait for entrance. American voices discuss the location of coffeeshops while waiting. Gaza does not exist here.

Hey, do you remember Pershing Summer? Remember the Reagan Administration, Grenada, El Salvador? I know I do. I also remember The Call and Modern Romans. Back there in 1983 I think Michael Been nailed it. Garth Hudson of The Band … Continue reading →

Spiegel: 😀 Spiegel, faithful Atlanticist that it is, now apparently feels jilted.

Volodymyr Ishchenko: I’m afraid that even the war in Ukraine might, in a few years, look like something we recall the way we recall Brexit or Trump’s election or COVID: shocks that seemed unimaginable, but then every year we get … Continue reading →

You know, people comment on something by saying “I have no words”, and most of the time this just sounds to me trite, just cheap rhetoric. But here – here I really don’t know what else to say.