Posted on 09/05/2004 5:04:49 PM PDT by Maigrey
The images being shown from Belsan, Russia, were hideous. The situation was infuriating. And knowing the circumstances doesn’t excuse the actions.
This week was the start of the Russian school year. In Russian culture, the start of the school year is marked with celebration, with extended families and friends going to the child’s school, and with bringing gifts for the child’s teacher. This year will be remembered for the brutal massacre at the school in school number one in Belsan.
On Wednesday, terrorists stormed the school, and took the people in the school hostage. Initial reports said that there were 100 to 400 hostages. Sadly, this was underestimated by almost 200 percent. When the school was evacuated today, there were over 1000 hostages, with a casualty rate of almost 75 percent! The few men who were present at the school when it was taken hostage were herded up like cattle, and slaughtered. The terrorists did this to keep the rest of the hostages compliant, and the children paralyzed with fear.
For three days, the 30 gunmen terrorized the children. This group included Arabs, Chechens, and women. The conditions they were held in were worse than the worst hellhole prison in any country. The carnage they witnessed will surely scar their lives and souls. The children were forced to strip to their undergarments, and forced to sit, shoulder to shoulder, with them being curled up knees under their chins. They were forced to sit quietly, with any noise having fatal consequences. They were not allowed to sleep, or drink, nor eat. This went on for three days.
Even prisoners are allowed water. But these children – along with the adults – were denied even this simple item. What beast would deny children water to drink? What group of monsters would force children to strip to their underwear? What evil would force children to consume their own liquid waste to stay hydrated?
One child, who had the courage to ask for water, was skewered like a pig. All for asking for water to drink. Should a child be killed for asking for a drink of water? Absolutely not. But the terrorists didn’t care about that. They were acting like petulant three year olds, who weren’t getting their way. They stated to the hostages that they were being denied water because Russian President Vladimir Putin wouldn’t come and deal with them personally. Another terrorist stabbed another child repeatedly, when the scum ran out of ammo. Their actions on the first day were recorded on video, and sent to Putin to show him they were serious. This video showed the terrorists raping girls, and murdering men.
Other atrocities were also committed. The terrorists raped girls. Uncles and fathers were murdered after being forced to assist in wiring the explosives. One man was executed in front of the children as an object lesson to obey or die. Mothers with multiple children at the school were forced to abandon one child to the terrorists and were allowed to leave with another. What evil would make a mother choose which child would live or die?
The terrorists were financed by Al-Quaeda, and trained in the hostage techniques in Chechnya. They murdered parents, and scared children. Were the children involved in the ten-year ongoing war in Chechnya, which the Chechen people say is a war for their independence? Were the women who were in the school responsible for the deaths during the war? Of course, they were treated like refuse by the terrorists.
Once the Russian crisis was resolved, the stories that have emerged are brutal, and make you want to cry for mercy for the children, and fury at those responsible. Alas, those who were directly responsible have paid the price for their actions with their lives. All were reported dead by Saturday, including one enterprising “Black Widow” who disguised herself as a teacher, and got out to a hospital with the children. Security forces killed her as she was attempting to detonate explosives around her body.
Finally, after all the horror has been reported, there come the recriminations. There was finger pointing at the Russian President, who didn’t want to negotiate with the evil thugs. Then there was the chaos from the detonation of the explosives in the gym, murdering scores of people. They European Union demanded information as to how this could happen. But what is embarrassing is the lack of resources for the children and adults after they escaped. According to news reports from Itar-Tass, the International Red Cross wasn’t present at the school, to provide relief efforts, because they were not requested.
Why for the love of life would someone have to request having the International Red Cross come out and assist these children? You would think a national catastrophe would automatically demand their presence, and not have to be requested. This is an outrage on a global scale. But I guess Muslim prisoners are more important that Christian children being held hostage.
Yes, you read correctly. What the national news markets are not reporting widely is that the terrorists targeted this school because it was a Christian school. Some of the children were members of the Russian Orthodox Church, a slightly different form of Greek Orthodox.
Once the funerals are completed, and Russia has a time to mourn the chaos of the last two weeks, there is going to be hell to pay. I don’t wish Russian justice and vengeance on anyone.
I think it's really really important for moslems who don't want to be lumped in with the evil ones to speak up en masse and soon! I know many of them are scared to speak up, especially the women.. I only see them at night anymore..they don't come out during the day. I can't imagine why a woman would be a part of a "religion" that would reduce her to chattel anyhow.
Yes, that is what I meant, too, I am just really torqued by the comments of some on the news and other places. Yes, I believe the buildings will be targeted, much like the churches in Iraq just recently. They will certainly be converted if feasible or simply leveled, before or after they are of some service to the terrorists. Very sad. Of course, if they 'get' church members in the process, they won't be disappointed, afterall, their point is to send a message. Sigh.
OK
Then send the women to Siberia - forever - too.
I don't understand how they could target children in such a brutal fashion. It is the ultimate example of using the terribly flawed idea that the "end justifies the means"
My oldest friend is a flaming liberal, here is the letter I'm sending her:
I think it would be best if we don't speak for awhile. I'd like to say it isn't anything you've said or done
specifically, that would only be partially true. Rather than some small personal tiff, this is about a bigger
issue, mainly your politics. I've tried very hard to avoid discussing political issues with you, and its pretty
much worked, even though I've noticed you like to throw little things in to try and bait me, whether you
realize it or not. I've managed to overlook and ignore all that because you are my oldest friend.
The massacre that happened in Russia this week opened my eyes to a few truths. The reason terrorists
are able to go around the world, murdering children and adults is because people like you allow it.
You are anti-war, even if the war is against terrorists capable of slaughtering innocents, You are anti-
American, even though this country has allowed you to say and do whatever you please. Nowhere else on
earth would you have the opportunities that you've pissed away here. The opportunity to open your mouth
and spout off was won for you by men and women much braver than you, who gave their lives so you could be free. Many places on earth you would be killed or jailed for your opinions.
You are an ignorant person, only mimicking ideas fed to you by the liberal media, you don't bother to find
out things on your own.
I'm no longer a liberal because I grew up and took responsibility for my life. I stopped playing victim. I
stopped making excuses for my failures.
George Bush and America didn't force you to date a pedophile and give up your child, George Bush and
America didn't piss away your inheritance. George Bush and America didn't force you into a group house
and screw up your life. YOU DID.
When you support the anti-war movement you are supporting dictators who kill and maim women and
children in the ugliest ways imaginable, you support a "religion" that doesn't allow women to vote or go to
school.. because of the US, women in Afghanistan and Iraq can now do those things without fear of
reprisal.. in Iran, women are still hung for being raped.
When you support the anti-war movement you support terrorists who can go into a school and murder
children.... shooting them in the back when they tried to escape..
You should be forced to look at pictures of the dead babies and children in Russia, because of people like
you who don't want to fight back against evil. this will continue to happen.. someday it might happen to you
and your child. The terrorists don't love you for helping them,,they hate you, no matter whether you're
liberal or conservative, they hate you whether you're American or Russian or French.. because they are full
of hate. And yet you help them just the same.
The great thing about this country (one of MANY great things) is that you can continue to believe as you
wish, do as you wish, for as long as you like. Just don't expect me to want to be around someone who
would sit back and let evil people do as they wish.
Never have, never will.
We only have 2 real allies in this world, maybe 3, and they ain't the rooskies.
Putin is just trying to play us for suckers.
How do you know that? In what specific way is that demonstrated?
The key should be fighting terrorists not supporting every other regime that the terrorists target
Agreed..where did I say anything about supporting every other regime that the terrorists target? I assume your response was to something I posted.
If you have always been a slave, a piece of property, nothing but chattel, and beaten for everything and nothing, and terrorized all your life, with your very existence being dependent upon someone else's whim by someone - your father, your husband, and in most places and times, your son, you can not even conceive of a life of freedom. It is totally and utterly beyond your experience, as it has been for most women, everywhere, everywhen.
It is still this way for most women, indeed - most people, on this earth. Even here, in the US, the sex trade of unwilling, and unwillingly illegal alien women, brought here by lies of a better life and honest work, is based upon slavery, ownership of human women by those who see them as nothing but a piece of property, and kept enslaved by fear and brutality.
I assume you're speaking to the 4 steps I made and not the first which was to join W in the war on terror.
Joining W would be my first choice but based on what I've heard from Putin sofar I don't think he's inclined to go that direction.
As to the creation of black widows, I'm not opposed to creating 'black widows' if it accomplishes the objective and mind you, I haven't suggested that anyone be killed, something the enemy has no compunction about.
Perhaps a better wording would have been:
You support a "religion" that doesn't allow women out of the house without a male escort, even it it means she starves to death. You support a "religion" that requires women to stay inside burning buildings to be incinerated.
Thank you for posting your letter. I have had TEARS POURING while reading about what happened in the Russian school and seeing the photographs.
I could barely see to drive home the other day, I was crying so hard, when I heard of the massacre by those COWARDLY, IMPOTENT MONSTERS trying to imply they have some manhood.
Aren't THEY powerful "Big Men on Campus"...IMPALING a thirsty, defenseless child and SHOOTING other hungry, dehydrated women and children IN THE BACK!!!...NOT!!!
DO NOT TRUST THE POLLS!!! WE MUST WORK DAY AND NIGHT TO REELECT BUSH!!! I guarantee you, the TERRORISTS are working day and night to DEFEAT him!!! Work like we are 5 points BEHIND!!!
It's both, just like the fight in Israel is both and just like the fight in this country is both. The difference is W has a policy of going and finding them wherever they are with whatever it takes. We are the only ones committed to fighting world terrorism.
As you say, Putin has not supported us in the war against terror. He made a strategic miscalculation way back and needs to correct that mistake and come on board. To be honest, I'm not sure he knows how.
AS far as the terrorists in Chechnya, my view sees muslim terrorists in a simplistic manner. They may be in a different area trying to take over (or destroy) a different group of people but aside from that, they're ALL the same bunch of scum using the same tactics.
Fascism has many faces. This 'muslim fundamentalism' is simply the most recent face. Carter turned em loose, Clinton allowed em to grow with impunity, now Dubya's gonna try to clean em up. Once again a Republican has to clean up a Dim's mess.
Some things never change.
It depends on your definition of partner.
First of all they are clearly not an ally, not even a worthy proponent BUT they can be considered something better than an adversary.
In that respect I think it's to our advantage to 'work together' in the war on terror whenever it proves to be of mutual benefit.
I would even say the same thing of the French and the German governments although I hold the French in much less regard than the Germans, Russians or the Chinese.
As for Israel i agree totally that we should stand shoulder to shoulder with them - just so long as my taxes don't foot the bill. I mean if the hardworking and creative Taiwanese can pay for their own weapons why can't the equally talented Jews ?
I have mixed emotions on that one. Like you, I don't feel the need to support that speck of land, which is nothing more than a gigantic pain in the ass, with my tax dollars.
On the other hand, they do provide a valuable point of presence for us in that hellhole called the middle east and I think they are worth the investment. Practically speaking, what we give them is 'defense capability' since most of the aid is spent on American manufactured weaponry.
The question would be whether that point of presence is worth the weaponry we give them. In the balance, I think it probably is.
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