Replies

The Chechen's have been treated like dirt by the Russians for the last 400 years.

Very true. But still they never gave up their will for independent state in that God forgotten, war torrmented land.

Russia should remove the terrorists from Chechnya and then -- get the hell out of Chechnya and leave the rest of them alone.

How can so called "terrorists" be removed if even a peace desiring, moderate patriotic politician will be murdered as Putin's personal enemy? Who will be left? Puppets? Slaves? How can patriotic Republicans trust such double-faced tyrrant?

The Chechen's have been treated like dirt by the Russians for the last 400 years.
Very true. But still they never gave up their will for independent state in that God forgotten, war torrmented land.
Hm... 400 hundred years? So, you mean that back in 1605 Russian empire stretched that far? You might be exaggerating a bit, both geographically and timewise. Chechnya was conquered only in early 19th century, that makes less than 200 years.
Have you ever asked yourself why exactly Russia fought Chechens so bitterly? Why they did not fight Georgians or Armenians, or any other nation living in Caucasus? There is nothing about pure hatred. It is very rational reason. Chechens (like Scotts some 200-300 years before) raided their neigbours for living.
If (and there is a big IF) Chechens dream about independent state, why in the name of God, after settling a peace treaty with Russia in 1996 (Khasavyurt), in 1999 they invaded neigbouring Dagestan to setlle an Islamic republic down there? By the terms of Khasavyurt treaty they were supposed to have referendum in 2001 (not even 2 years from then) to vote for complete independence. Why they did not wait? That casts a bit of a shadow on the peacful nature of a newborn independent state.
And finally, there are lots of Chechens permanently living in Moscow running businesses, like gambling (=treated like dirt?). I am not too sure they want to get back to Grozny should it declare independence.
IMHO, if only Russian government can rest assured that independent Chechya will not turn into a safe haven for radical Islamism, they would have let them go. Unfortunately nobody, not even the most moderate Chechen warlords can give such a guarantee.
PS: How about letting Afghanistan or Iraq go? What they will turn into in 2-3 years?