Mikhail Octavian Trump

Mikhail Octavian Trump

It is said that during the 1990s’ time of troubles in Russia a popular view held that the prevailing chaos and ruin could only be redressed by a leader meeting the description of “Adolf Vissarionovich Pinochet.” (Адольф Виссарионович Пиночет). The composite name of this hypothetical rescuer featured (1) the surname “Pinochet” of the anti-communist Chilean military strongman,…

Why India’s Air Force Is Dying

Why India’s Air Force Is Dying

To observers of India’s defense environment, the country’s procurement process is a deeply bureaucratized labyrinth of incompetence and ineffectiveness. A 27-point internal memo prepared in 2017 by Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre presented a sweeping denunciation of the tangled web of failures in Defence Ministry weapons-buying procedures and outputs. Most striking to note…

Playing the Gender Card

Playing the Gender Card

In this age of feminism, if you can feature a female in your story, the more likely you gain empathy with audiences these days. For example, just look at the Happy Egg Company that panders to women, claiming it houses its hens (called “their girls”) in large pastures instead of cages and treats their birds…