Author Archives: Michael Wehle

On 7 December 1988, in New York, Gorbachev addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations. He announced the withdrawal of half a million Soviet troops from the countries of Eastern Europe. The Soviet Union also released almost all of … Continue reading →

Is it possible for someone to review Bundeswehr, US military, and Russian military recruiting collateral, and still take the Bundeswehr halfway seriously? How? 🤔 I mean this in all seriousness: in Russia I regularly photograph recruiting posters. The difference between … Continue reading →

This morning I am musing over Tony Benn’s five questions to people in power. “If you can’t get rid of the people who govern you, you don’t live in a democratic system.” I am finding I can’t even talk about … Continue reading →

The problem, contrary to customary Western claims, lay not in the “crushing” defense outlays. The Soviet military, the military-industrial complex (MIC), and R&D were remarkably cost-effective; according to the best available estimates, they never exceeded 15 percent of GDP. A … Continue reading →

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 →