An Old Soviet Joke

UK PM Keir Starmer:

Europe is a sleeping giant. Our economies dwarf Russia’s, by more than 10 times over. We have enormous defense capabilities.

Europe has more than 20 types of frigates, around 10 types of fighter jets, over 10 types of main battle tanks. Meanwhile, the US… pic.twitter.com/NFRjmBJY3d
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) February 15, 2026

Reminded me of an old Soviet joke. A Communist apparatchik is delivering a report on the successes of the Tula Region.

“Comrades!” he says. “Under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, we achieved extraordinary successes. Before the Bolshevik revolution, there was only one writer in the Tula Region. It was Leo Tolstoy. But today, thanks to the brilliant policies of the Politburo, the Tula Region has 14 writers!”

I remember when the British were famous for their sense of humor but, clearly, no more.