The Tuesday-evening rush hour in central Moscow dragged on interminably, a sure sign that something important was happening. As usual, the streets around the Krem- lin were blocked off, allowing black limousines to emerge from the Borovitsky Gate and speed away unhindered. Normally, that ritual ties up lesser motorists for only a few extra minutes; on this occasion, the tangle lasted much longer. The reason: the Soviet Communist Party's Central Committee, more than 300 members strong, had just concluded its first plenary session under the leadership of General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, 54. The outcome of the meeting, held behind closed doors...
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