[GarySpFc]

Chechnya and the Caucasus do not deserve to be the pawns of an international game, in which America "gives" them to Russia in return for Russian "support" against militant Islam.

Chechnya and the rest of that area deserves to be free (from Russia). We push it into the hands of Islamicism by treating it the same way Eastern Europe was treated after World War II -- as a political bargaining chip.

The remarks above are simply insane. Firstly, Chechnya is a part of Russia. Secondly, we did not push them into the hands of Islamicism, the thugs ran the rest of the people out of the region in a takeover. Thirdly, the Chechen terrorists are controlled by al-Qaeda, and you will find them on every battlefield in the world where you find dead al-Qaeda. Yep, let's set up the Republic of al-Qaeda on Russia's border. sarcasm/off

[Tax Government]

Number 1. Russia has been trying to conquer Chechnya for three or four centuries at least. That does not make Chechnya Russian.

Number 2. We are ignoring Chechnya and its population's right to exist as a distinct entity. Instead of asking the international community (or the U.N.) to take an interest, we are ignoring it-- giving Russia a free hand to do its worst. It IS doing its worst.

Number 3. The Chechens will look for support where they can find it. The surrounding countries have used Islam as a point of unity to resist Russian incursion. That is happening now.

Nothing I said need to be amended. Your statement that the remarks are "insane" is just uncivil.