[Destro]

The Republic of North Ossetia-Alania is an anomaly in the North Caucasus on several counts. First, its population is Christian, not Muslim (their patron saint is St. George). And as Dzasokhov pointed out in a recent article published in "Nezavisimaya gazeta," the Ossetians were the only Caucasian ethnic group that voluntarily petitioned the tsar (in 1774) for their territory to be absorbed into the Russian Empire. Second, they are the only ethnic group in the North Caucasus to speak an Indo-European language (part of the Iranian language group).

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Negotiate with terrorists, and you will get more terrorism.

[Angelus Errare]

I'd wager that it was a little more than a coincidence that Basayev's death brigades went after a school of Christian kids.

Not that he's been too shy about killing Muslims or anybody else in Ingushetia, Dagestan, or Kabardino-Balkaria.

Is CNN still calling them rebels?

[LikeLight]

Chechen separatist militants = Islamic Terrorists.

Come on, Reuters, say it. Losers.

[Pearls Before Swine]

The real question is what the Russians will do AFTER this is over, especially if there are significant numbers of children killed.

[taxcontrol]

Gas the place with BZ gas.

[ServesURight]

This is what happens when you sit around and play defense. After the theatre tragedy, Putin should have wiped Chechnya off the map with an all-out offensive.

Sadly, Putin has joined a long line of failed Russian leaders. Even Yeltzin had a bigger set.

[RonHolzwarth]

"We could be on the eve of the next war."

Now there's a BRILLIANT observation!

"The real question is what the Russians will do AFTER this is over, especially if there are significant numbers of children killed.

Yup!

There's only ONE THING that the Russians love more than their Motherland - their children.

And I can't blame them for that one bit.

One added observation - the Russians are not as held back by "political correctness" as we.

[fso301]

ANALYSIS-Putin might risk bloody end to school siege

Another poster on a different thread had a good suggestion; that the Russians round up say 500 Chechens and chain them to the schoolhouse.

[Countyline]

Father God, you who can do the impossible, protect these children, sustain them, may your Presence be with them. Cause a cloud to come onto the muslim terrists holing these children, cause a deep sleep to come upon them. Dear LORD do a wonder at this time as we are told you did of old. Bless the children, Father. In the precious name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

[drypowder]

I'd get as many of the Islamic Terrorists family members, even their babies, and take them to the school so the terrorists can see them one last time before they all die.
Sounds cold I know, but negotiations don't work but these murdering thug Islamic Terrorists do understand death and force. If killing their family members doesn't work, oh well, there's just that many less to support future Islamic thug terrorists.

[EggsAckley]

There was a photo of some hostages being released, and I cropped one of them to feature a young mother with her child. There is just something SO "Madonna-esque" about her. The way she's holding up her left hand, and the way she's holding the baby remind me so much of some Renaissance painting of the Madonna and Child. Strange.

[NeoCaveman]

Putin doesn't f' around.

[El Sordo]

Things looking ugly ping.

[JasonC]

As long as all the terrorists die, it is a success.

[rawhide]

It was reported today that the President of Osetia had offered to release 50 of the terrorist's cohorts today but it was turned down. source: gazeta.ru

President of Osetia, Alexander Dzasohov, said that the terrorists were offered the freedom of 50 of their cohorts who were seized back in June. A deal was almost made, but at the last moment the terrorists backed down.

[nw_arizona_granny]

ping

[SevenofNine]

Who was that Tsar at that time Destro

Peter the Great or Catherine the Great