There were two aspects to this policy. There were internal obstacles to clear away and dangers from abroad to face. Today there was no force within the Soviet Union capable of preventing the further development of socialism and its gradual transition to communism. Vigilance against external attacks had made it necessary to reject the Marxist theory of the extinction of the state, based on the assumption of international socialism and the adoption of the Stalinist theory of building a strong state with a powerful army and its own military science capable of to win in war and to achieve the military and diplomatic consolidation of victory". (The Times, 1 February,