Patrushev rising?

As Putin sours on Sergei Shoigu, hardliner tsar Nikolai Patrushev is likely to rise. The secretary of Russia's national security council is the Kremlin's leading hawk.

Russian deception over Ukraine, FIFA Iran World Cup

War and the pretense of peace: how Russia is trying to deceive everyone over Ukraine. Russia is playing mind games so as to attempt its restored control over the military, economic and political initiative.

FIFA should ban Iran from the 2022 World Cup. Iran's refusal to allow female spectators into its games is absurd, immoral and in overt contravention of FIFA warnings.

Orban re-election?, Ukraine deep battlespace

Vladimir Putin's voice in Europe, Hungary's Viktor Orban, faces re-election undeterred. Orban is the favorite in Sunday's parliamentary elections. The West should consider why he has support even as it hopes he'll be replaced. 

Ukraine needs weapons for the deep battlespace. As Russian forces struggle to maintain their offensives, the West should assist Ukraine in attacking Russian lines of communication.

Saudis

Saudi oil attack throws another molotov cocktail into Biden's Middle East strategy. Iran is ramping up the pressure and fraying longstanding U.S. alliances. Biden should take corrective action.

Israel-Ukraine, Cyberwar

Why Israel cares more about its relationship with Russia than supporting Ukraine. Israel views Russian leverage over Iran as a preeminent concern.

How Biden can deter Russia from carrying out a major cyber-attack. Vladimir Putin must be made to understand that the U.S., not Russia, will shape the escalation curve.

Putin nuclear brinkmanship, Biden NATO, Star Trek

How to deter Putin's nuclear brinkmanship. The U.S. must show strategic clarity as to what will happen if Putin uses nuclear weapons over Ukraine.

Biden deserves credit for holding the NATO line. Russia is isolated, with even China now paying heed of the West's new unity.

President Stacey Abrams gives Star Trek its far left final frontier. The former Georgia gubernatorial candidate wins a 32nd century election.

Putin initiative

A flustered Vladimir Putin seeks to regain the initiative in Ukraine. The Russian leader has some big problems, however.

Biden NATO

Biden should bring two key messages to NATO. The alliance will hold a special session at its headquarters in Brussels next Thursday.

China Ukraine, Pompeo costs, UK oligarchs

Why China is very unlikely to send military equipment to assist Russia in Ukraine. The risks to China's relationship with the European Union and Beijing's international prestige are likely too great.

Roman Abramovich's corruption genie is out of the Harbottle (+ Lewis). A reckoning for the intersection of corrupt Russians and London law firms has finally arrived.

from last week...

State Department memo outlines high cost of protecting Mike Pompeo in face of threats from Iran. The security tab runs in at $2 million per month.

U.S. must take the lead against Putin's oligarchs and their UK enablers. Britain's absurd defamation law is preventing more effective action against powerful vested interests.

Tchaikovsky

Don't cancel Tchaikovsky over Putin's invasion of Ukraine. There is a big difference between robust sanctions and the pointless eradication of culture.

China-Ukraine, Ukraine bioweapons fiction

Make China squirm over Ukraine. Beijing wants to have its European cake and allow Russia to eat Europe's democratic sovereignty. The U.S. should lead a global effort to prevent that outcome.

Russia invents a U.S.-Ukrainian bioweapons program. The absurdity of Russia's latest fiction is matched only by its lack of creativity. 

Bolton plot, Olaf and Narendra

Iran plotting assassination of Bolton, others, even as U.S. negotiates with Iran over restored nuclear deal. The nature of the IRGC's plots requires a robust confrontation.

Olaf Scholz's Russia invasion response inspires confidence, Narendra Modi's inspires concern. The split encapsulates the West's evolving security architecture. 

Hostomel, Russian oligarchs

In Hostomel losses, a microcosm of Russia's growing Ukraine crisis. The Russian military is losing entire units in the battle to secure the approaches to Kyiv. This incurs significant political as well as military costs.

Boris Johnson takes cautious stance in confronting Russian oligarchs. The UK government appears to fear losing out on the financial investments of pro-Putin oligarchs.

Biden nuke test

Biden's foolish nuclear missile test cancellation. Strategic deterrence should not rest at the mercy of Vladimir Putin's mood swings. Indeed, it must not.

Russian defeat, Kyiv airlift

 A true Russian victory in Ukraine is now nearly impossible. The Russians lack the manpower, morale, logistics and freedom of action to sustain a course to victory.

Rightly rejecting a no-fly zone, the West should consider a humanitarian airdrop for Ukraine. The means of action are not prohibitive.