As Russia’s summer of terror unfolded, it might have been easy to forget the long and agonizing prehistory to the headline-grabbing horrors that included exploding airliners, suicide bombs and schoolchildren taken hostage. Independence-seeking Chechen fighters, who are behind the recent wave of terrorist attacks, have been a bone in the Kremlin’s throat for almost 300 years. And President Vladimir Putin faces… return to article
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Reader Comments (14)Page 1 of 1 pagesFascinating story.
Just one question; Did the U.S. recognize, welcome and embrace Chechnya into the world as a new state after the Soviet collapse in 1991 like they did other former Soviet satelites?
Posted by theloneous on Sep 17, 2004 at 5:22 PM This article fails to mention the genocide of muslim Chechyns. Thousands of Chechyns were murdered in this ethnic killing (not to excuse what happened in the school). President Clinton condemned this murdering of such a poor and oppressed people, and Bush reversed this (of course).
Posted by zee on Sep 17, 2004 at 6:33 PM Clearly the Chechyn patriots are fighting against Russian Redcoats in a classic war of independence.
Unfortunately, the author calls the slaughter of innocent theater goers by Russian special forces a “tactical success”. It’s clearly a losing situation for both the Chechyns and the Russians.
For a much more indepth history of Chechyna I recommend http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechnya.
Self determination for all people! The only way to stop this insanity is to stop oppression!
Posted by weirdscenes on Sep 18, 2004 at 2:18 AM Notice any parallelism of this struggle to what is going on in Iraq?
Posted by e.q. abellera on Sep 18, 2004 at 3:31 PM Once again, proof positive that humans are the stupidest fucking creatures to ever walk the good earth.
Posted by g-love on Sep 21, 2004 at 1:43 PM OK,
I suspect I will not be popular on this one.
First, the war was pre-ordained by a Russian Oligarch (roughly 100 total Oligarchs were created) back in the early 1990s. He now resides in England and Israel and spends his time buying up european football teams—content in his potential future riches.Now, the war is spreading, into a region wide conflict and Russia will happily spend another 1,000,000 dead (or more) to retain territorial integrity—she has no choice.
The idea that every time a group goes fundamentalist and that justifies its existance and rights leaves me a little cold.
I suspect if ALL the Chechens would all move to Chechnya and get out of Russia proper—the Russian population would let them go, on the condition they did not bring their pollution back to Russia. However, during the last butchery of children—the Chechen high command claimed the Russians initiated the assult on the school—a pure lie—and complete refuted by the evidence as shown on television. Also, they only offered peace for 10-15 years and pointly stated they would reinitiate religious revolutionary war in ALL the Caucauses even with a end to hostilities.
This is a Religious war now between the West, Russia (Christian and Atheist) and the Middle Eastern Extremists who will not stop until Saudi Arabia has eliminated its current autoarchy set up by the US and the oligarchs (Mafia) who have the rights to most the Chechen land are reduced in the same way Yukos is being restructured.
Either way, there is no piece here for the Chechens or the Russians as the Fundamentalists love the war to much, as the Oligarchs love their potential contracts. By the way the oil fields are not that productive there anyway.
I personally wish Russia would put a nuclear device on top of Mecca and relocate the Chechens into a new reconstituted GULAG for Atheist Re-education. Other then that I am a liberal, Bush is a weak and stupid president and America as well as Russia are currently losing in the War with the Muslem extremists. :-).
1) Blow up Mecca.
2) Perform a Yermolov on the Chechnens.Regards
Murray
Posted by Murray on Sep 22, 2004 at 7:39 PM Although it would likely be effective, it sounds way too much like something Hitler would say. Then again, so does labeling liberals as “terrorists”.
Posted by jmarks on Sep 23, 2004 at 11:21 AM Why stop at blowing up Mecca? Remove ALL so-called “organized” religion, and see how much better things are. Really.
Posted by g-love on Sep 23, 2004 at 2:12 PM What these people did is unexcusable, and for it each and every one of them will go to hell. Im so sick of people trying to defend these bastards. Bush and his folks jump on the bandwagon with the popular yet false phrase “Islam is a religion of peace”. BULLSHIT!. Why dont you read the Koran before saying that? The fact is that Islam was founded for the sole purpose of combating Christians and Jews. If you dont believe it, READ IT. The majority of Muslims around the world infact have never read the Koran, cannot read arabic, and learn all of their faith from the mouths of mullahs and imams. These terrorist killed children. Trying to defend it by other peoples actions is illogical. You Bush haters need to realize something very serious here. The bottom line is these folks have no concern for human life. I could go on forever, but my last word of advice is to watch the videos of the beheadings. Its hard to watch, but you must force yourself to do it. Once you see it you know the nature of these folks. Pure Evil. No maybes about it. Please take this advice, a beheading is more sick than it sounds. You have to see it to understand. When i saw it i was filled with disgust but mostly RAGE. People like them deserve to die, and i may be wrong in my logic, im willing to admit that i might have a nonobjective view because I am a Christian. Whatever you say, you must realize that in reality this is a religious war. Its radical islam against the rest of the world. This war will not stop until eihter they are gone, or we are gone(once again read the Koran if you dont believe me). Go to www.homelandsecurityus.com to watch the beheading(s). You may disagree with everything i just said, but all i ask is you view the video(s). Nomatter what your opinion is, you will be affected by watching and hopefully if you are an American you will feel the same Rage and Utter hatred for these bastards. Im spreading this message to watch the videos cuz i believe that if all Americans were to watch we would be more united against them, and not so politically divided. Democrats and Republicans would(should) see this the same way. If we are more united against them, the easier to defeat them for good.
Posted by Jay Jones on Sep 24, 2004 at 12:56 PM Jay, take your stupid, ignorant views elsewhere. Thanks!
Posted by g-love on Sep 24, 2004 at 1:10 PM Jay:
Thanks for the link, saw the beheading video. I understand why you’re upset. Those killers represent Islam like Bush represents freedom and democracy. There is absolutley no connection between the murderers on the video and real Islam just as there is no connection between the destruction of thousands of American and Iraqi lives in Bush’s war and the pursuit of Iraqi freedom, democracy or the war on terrorism.
Posted by theloneous on Sep 24, 2004 at 2:25 PM g-love—I don’t feel that Christians should not feel they can be included in ‘Progressive’ Forums—please note I belong to a number of ‘Free Thinkers’ groups (code word—for atheists)—you have to communicate with fellow travelers to convert them fully—Jay has taken the first step by reacting to the article.
Jay Jones—You should consider that the Bush family in total represents some very unusual events in pre and post WWII history and is directly responsible for—well try the following google search ‘Prescott Bush 1942 Germany’. That will help you understand that from a Evangelical Christian Viewpoint the Bush family is much more indicative of the Anti-Christ then say Osama is. Please be aware that the Bush family and Prescott Bush in particular sponsored/guided into existence Hitler’s Germany’s rise to power, the Polish work camps and free US Citizenships for 2000 Nazi death camp intelligence officers (early CIA history)—all this has been determined through a wonderful law called the Freedom of Information Act. This same family was a founding player in the Savings and Loan Scam, the Saudi Royalties current power situation where (90%+) the SA population does not vote and has no rights as the wealth is redirected to prop up the American Economy is also closely protected through this families efforts. You should take a look at the Michael Moore Film—if you have not yet—it is fairly accurate and much more accurate then say the ‘Swiftboat Veterans full of Lies’.
Don’t get me wrong, I hold this is a Middle-Eastern war not a Iraqi war and in that particular case this President totally failed America and has single handledly managed to put the United States back into a 1950s frame of reference. To understand how well this President protects America’s borders all you need to do is fly from London to New York sometime and count the 75%+ passanger set from Arab countries.
Iraq is a lost battle and the best thing to do is cut tail and get out. Refocus the troops and police on Afghanistan (poppy fields—now the largest on record), and KILL Osoma through direct pressure on Pakistan.
A war in Iran will be a disaster, Iraq will be a civil war and it is best to set a date and get out the sooner the better. In a war you choose your battles, Bush choose UNwisely—Kerry will at least not waste young American Soldiers without purpose and make ignorant statements like ‘Bring it On’.
Hope you vote for Nader or Kerry (preferably Kerry if in a swing state).
Regards
Murray
Posted by Murray on Sep 24, 2004 at 4:47 PM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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