In the aftermath of the Moscow subway bombings that killed or injured more than 100 people — punctuated by deadly subsequent attacks in Russia’s North Caucasus region — questions proliferate:
Who were the perpetrators? What were their goals? Are the incidents connected? Do the bombings portend a resurgence of terrorist violence in Russia? Will Prime [...]

Has Russia become dangerous, adversarial and increasingly undemocratic?

Similar to transplantology enthusiast Vladimir Demikhov’s two-headed dog experiments, Russia’s political system has lurched in the direction of a curiosity with Dmitry Medvedev’s election as president. But is the team of Medvedev and outgoing President Vladimir Putin really a power duo, as some have suggested?
My belief is that the pair is more like one of [...]

Two ballot-box disappointments had loomed in recent days: a vote in support of proposed constitutional changes in Venezuela and Russian parliamentary elections in favor of President Vladimir Putin. Fortunately, only one of them turned out badly – Moscow’s. Venezuelans won, for now.

An official U.S. intelligence report about the “return” of al-Qaeda has sparked considerable worry, echoing the concerns of those who had never stopped paying attention to the rebounding terrorist group.
Nearly six years after Sept. 11, it stands to reason that al-Qaeda would have regrouped and drawn strength from events such as the conflict in Iraq. [...]