Trend Results : Soviet Union

Able Archer

My latest at the Diplomat talks a bit more about Nate Jones’ work at National Security Archive: Like in the United States, the political and military elite of the Soviet Union disagreed on the likelihood of war, and on the predisposition of the new administration in Washington. Soviet hawks took the exercises as evidence of [...]

Liveblogging World War II: May 22, 1943

Release of "Mission to Moscow": >"Mission to Moscow" was made at the behest of F.D.R. in order to garner more support for the Soviet Union during WWII. It was from the book by Joseph E. Davies, former U.S. Ambassador To Russia. The movie...Show More Summary

I Think I Speak For The Entire Class When I Say "Holy Crap!"

The folks at the National Security Archive have released a report on how close we really came to a nuclear war with a disintergrating Soviet Union in the early 1980's. It centers on a NATO military exercise called Able Archer 83, and what the National Sec

In The First Circle Bookclub!

“Russia in fact no longer existed – Only the Soviet Union…” (Our kickoff post is here, and our discussion posts are here, here, here, here, here, and here.) Thanks to Living Colour, we’re all familiar with the phrase “Cult Of Personality“. Show More Summary

New Documents Reveal How 1980s Nuclear War Scare Became a Full-Blown Crisis

Over ten days in November 1983, the U.S. and the Soviet Union nearly started a nuclear war. Now newly declassified documents reveal just how close we reached a mutual destruction -- because of an exercise.

Government Spending Crushes the Economy

For over 100 years, now, we’ve seen evidence of the damage that runaway government spending can do to the economy. Whether in the extreme of the Soviet Union’s planned economy, or the more subtle entitlement...

The Goats Care Not For Your Artisanal Wares

"We had an old Soviet Union poster from the ’70s; the goats had pulled it down and eaten it. They ate my son’s Greek gods and goddesses poster; he was real upset about that. They knocked my wife’s hand-thrown coffee mug off the table. Show More Summary

Withdrawal of Soviet Forces From Afghanistan, May 1988

Twenty-five years ago, on May 15, 1988, the Soviet Union started withdrawing its forces from Afghanistan. Under the April 1988 Geneva agreements on attaining a political settlement on Afghanistan, the Soviet Union pledged to withdraw its military contingent over a period of nine months, that is, by February 15, 1989.

CIA’s role in the Benghazi mess

The CIA in the last three decades has had quite a track record of errors and misjudgments. It didn’t spot the fall of the Shah. It was taken by surprise by the collapse of the Soviet Union. “In May 1998, the CIA … Continue reading ?

Sotheby's announces sale of photographic artworks from the former Soviet Union

On 5 June 2013 in London, Sotheby?s will present for auction ?Changing Focus: A Collection of Russian & Eastern European Contemporary Photography?. This private American collection of over 800 photographs taken by artists living within the former Soviet Union is the first of its kind to be offered for sale on the international auction market. Show More Summary

Tom Engelhardt: Nuclear Weapons Will Be Used

After the Soviet Union disappeared in 1991, nuclear weapons did, too -- without going away. The American and Russian arsenals, and the nuclear geography that underlay them, remained in place, just largely unremarked upon. In the meantime, the weaponry itself spread.

Fantasy Fashion Show Takes Place Inside a Giant Russian Space Suit

Communist leaders of the former Soviet Union had some wacky plans that trickled into all spheres of life - including fashion. So New York based artists Joanna Malinowka and Christian Tomaszewski from Poland designed a giant inflatable Russian space suit modeled

Godfrey Bloom: The European Union will go the same way as the Soviet Union

Russia Celebrates Victory Day

Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9 marking the final defeat of Nazi Germany by the Soviet Union in World War II.

Victory Day Parade in Moscow

Moscow celebrated the 68th anniversary of the Soviet Union's Victory over Nazi Germany in World War II with a traditional military parade on Red Square.

Using 'bacteria-eaters' to prevent infections on medical implant materials

Viruses that infect and kill bacteria -- used to treat infections in the pre-antibiotic era a century ago and in the former Soviet Union today -- may have a new role in preventing formation of the sticky "biofilms" of bacteria responsible for infections on implanted medical devices.

Using 'bacteria-eaters' to prevent infections on medical implant materials

They're ba-ack! But in a new disease-fighting role. Viruses that infect and kill bacteria — used to treat infections in the pre-antibiotic era a century ago and in the former Soviet Union today — may have a new role in preventing formation of the sticky "biofilms" of bacteria responsible for infections on implanted medical devices. Show More Summary

Sir Alex Ferguson's Retirement Sends Manchester United Fans into Unknown

Sir Alex Ferguson has been one of the few constants over the last 27 years. Back in 1986, the Soviet Union was a world power, the Berlin Wall stood tall in Germany, apartheid remained in South Africa, Nelson Mandela was in prison and Liverpool were still a footballing powerhouse. Show More Summary

Star Wars Didn’t Matter

Given the coincidence of “May the Fourth be With You,” and the season finale of The Americans, this is worth a look: The archival documents also help dispel the notion that the Star Wars program pushed the Soviet Union closer to the brink of an economic collapse. No one would argue that the Soviet economy [...]

Local NBC Reporter Hilariously Denies Soviet Flags Present At May Day Rally: ‘What Do They Represent?’

While covering a May Day rally in Manhattan’s Union Square on Wednesday, NBC New York reporter Ida Siegal was cornered and asked if her network planned to show the communist imagery the protesters were displaying. Hilarity ensued when...Show More Summary