[MarMema]

There are ominous ( I think) signs that the chechens are planning a new years celebration to beat all past in Moscow as well. Add that to the terror warnings for London and one could think this has potential for an ugly new year.

And how are you, btw? Nice to see you again. Pinging my friend Abar to join us.

[Angelus Errare]

"There are ominous ( I think) signs that the chechens are planning a new years celebration to beat all past in Moscow as well."

Well, aside from the Grozny fun that Basayev's boys had a couple of days ago, the French shut down an al-Qaeda cell apparently trying to use chemical weapons to attack the Russian Embassy in Paris. The interesting thing was that in addition to the Chechens, the cell was also comprised of members of the GIA/GSPC (Algerian al-Qaeda affiliates). With the apparent creation of al-Qaeda training facilities in the Pankisi Gorge (another fact that came out as a result of the recent arrests), I expect that bin Laden's stormtroopers are going to try to step up operations in Chechnya ASAP. They also really seem bent on killing Kadirov for some reason.

"Add that to the terror warnings for London and one could think this has potential for an ugly new year."

Agreed. The British also halted a plot back in November (and my working theory is that all of these sleepers started coming out of the woodwork following the latest edition of Osama Home Entertainment) to release cyanide in the London Subway, hence the recent terror warnings.

"And how are you, btw?"

I'm fine, having endured both Christmas and LOTR. My comp has to go into the shop tomorrow, but I should be up and running again in about a week or so.