Sidney I. Ploss is a senior Soviet analyst at the U.S. State Department. His books include Conflict and Decision-Making in Soviet Russia and The Soviet Political Process: Aims, Methods, and Examples of Analysis. He has taught at Princeton, Harvard, Pennsylvania, and George Washington universities.

• Also of Interest -- Introduction -- “A Fist … Is … Senseless” -- Outcries in Low Key -- Trial of Nerves -- The Pillars in Jeopardy -- A Bid for Martial Law? -- Divide et Impera -- Congress Without a Vision -- Stake on Generals and Apparatchiki -- “This Crucial Historic Moment” -- Conclusions -- Appendix 1 -- Appendix 2