An August 17 bombing in Ingushetia highlighted a particularly violent summer in Russia's North Caucasus. But neither foreign terrorists nor poor law enforcement deserve the lion's share of the blame for the poor security situation in the region.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Medvedev have widely contrasting visions of Russia's future, making it all but inconceivable that Putin would sit out the next presidential race.

While there was plenty of empathy with Egyptians, there were no mass protests. Instead, Russian disquiet has assumed other, less hopeful forms.

Vladimir Putin will likely run for president of Russia in 2012; Dmitri Medvedev faces a stark dilemma: be a Khrushchev or a Gorbachev?

Islam has been a major and durable aspect of Russia's history, geography, and culture.

Circumstances in Russia point to the gradual erosion of legitimacy and political institutions--or a sudden collapse of the regime, like the recent Egyptian antiauthoritarian revolt.

An accord between Europe's largest (Russia) and its sixth most populous (Ukraine) nations is central to the stability of the post-Cold War European order.

Frederick W. Kagan continues his frequent reports on the unfolding situation in the Caucasus.