firstly, there is the report that the USSR Russia is pushing the envelope of fuel-air explosives.

Russia tests superstrength bomb: military

Russia has tested the world’s most powerful vacuum bomb, which unleashes a destructive shockwave with the power of a nuclear blast, the military said on Tuesday, dubbing it the “father of all bombs”. The bomb is the latest in a series of new Russian weapons and policy moves as President Vladimir Putin tries to reassert Moscow’s role on the international stage.

The Russsians note that this is a non-nuclear weapon, & they may be planning to use it on Islamoterr formations, etc. in the Chechen war. Sounds like a plan to the Chief. Good hunting!

The other bombing was self-administered, with Putin politically blowing apart his own government, in a pre-election maneuver to aid his Putinative (putative) successor.

Putin Dissolves Russian Government

President Vladimir Putin dissolved Russia’s government Wednesday in a major political shakeup ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections, the Kremlin said. The dissolution is expected to result in a new prime minister, who will be seen as Putin’s choice to succeed him after he steps down next spring.

Russian “democracy” at work.