The "kingpin strategy" of targeting cartel leaders can be counterproductive. Removing a strong leader like El Mencho, who maintained vertical control, often leads to the cartel's fragmentation. This results in violent internecine conflicts as factions vie for power, ultimately increasing overall violence in the region.
Contrary to state propaganda, many ordinary Russians do not view returning soldiers as heroes. Instead, they are often feared and avoided, seen as unwelcome reminders of the war. These veterans struggle to find employment, creating a negative social feedback loop that harms the Kremlin's ability to recruit more soldiers.
Counterintuitively, the key to a faster marathon is not to constantly train at high speeds. Analysis of 120,000 runners shows that the fastest performers run significantly more total distance, but the vast majority of this extra mileage is done at a very slow, low-intensity pace to build endurance without causing excessive fatigue.
For urban Russians, the war's impact is felt through daily inconveniences that reveal pervasive state control. Constant GPS spoofing to counter drones makes navigation apps useless, while the necessity of VPNs and the loss of direct travel to Europe create a palpable sense of abnormality and isolation.
Russia's reported economic growth is a mirage fueled by massive spending on a military-industrial complex that produces goods "designed to be destroyed." This war-focused sector is sucking resources, capital, and labor away from the productive civilian economy, creating a fragile system that undermines long-term prosperity.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel's power stems from its diversified criminal portfolio. Beyond drug trafficking, it engages in fuel theft, extortion, and even timeshare fraud. This broad business model, combined with its presence in all 32 Mexican states, makes it a uniquely powerful and complex criminal organization.