A Really Good Use of Russian Taxes: Russia plans to install a new “state-of-the-art” air defense system by the start of 2006, reports the Moscow Times. The newspaper links the announcement of the new S-400 missile system with talk by US and Poland over the possibility of installing a ballistic missile defense system in Poland. (DR 11/18/05)
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.

