It is painful to talk about it, but even with its 110,000 elite soldiers, the Soviet Union never managed to gain control over the entire Afghan territory.

Moscow has been helping the Northern Alliance because "the Taliban was openly supported by Pakistan... until last week, Pakistani servicemen had taken part in war operations on the Taliban side.

Russia sees itself as a country that is self-sufficient.

The Baltic countries are sovereign nations. They have the right to decide which military and political bloc they want to be a part of.

Because of its huge territory, Russia must devote a great deal of attention to security.

When it comes to culture, religion and mentality, most Russians identify with Europe.

We have put the Cold War behind us. We no longer count our divisions and our warheads. And I am Russia's first civilian defense minister in many centuries. We have become more pragmatic.

Jumping out of a perfectly good air plane is like driving through life without a good set of brakes.

Oh, I know what to do when I see victuals coming toward me in little old Bagdad-on-the-Subway. I strike the asphalt three times with my forehead and get ready to spiel yarns for my supper.

You've got to be brave and you've got to be bold. Brave enough to take your chance on your own discrimination - what's right and what's wrong what's good and what's bad.

A balance of giving and receiving is essential to keeping your energy, mood and motivation at a consistently high level.

I believe that saying a thing is to keep its virtues and take away its terror.

To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is Godlike.

Once my mom passed away, I have nobody to answer to. It's great.

I don't like catchphrases either. A current one would be, "Bye, Felicia." It's used so much that we don't even know the origin anymore.

The time has come to move beyond eco-elitism to eco-populism. Ecopopulism. To change our laws and culture, the green movement justice, political solutions and social change.

By being peaceful, quiet, and receptive, you pattern yourself in the image of God, and you regain the power of your Source.