[K. Smirnov]

Ok. This is the last reply to this thread.
1)Neither Latvia, nor Lithuania, nor Estonia, nor Ukriane ever (in last forseebly past) lived by robbery and kidnapping. So the historical parallel is completely out of a place.
2) When I say, give Iraq independence right now, I mean pull out all troops, not about elections: do not change the subject. That will not happen either, since as soon as the trops will be pulled out, Iraq will turn into bloodbath. Iraq is not ready for independence.
3) Chechnya (according to Kahasav Yurt treaty, 1996) was given independence, all Russian trops were pulled out. Central government kept paying them pensions, supplying gas and electricity. According to this treaty, Chechnya should have hold a referendum in 2001, whether they wanted to be completely independent from Russia or not. Maskhadov was in charge then. Him being in charge did not prevent 1999 incursion into Dagestan, which prooved Chechens being irresponsible under his leadesrhip and/or Maskhadov being unable to control them. Chechnya in its present state is not ready for independence too, unless there is the firm guarantee that it will not turn into the bandits haven. No one can guarantee it righ now.
4) In your historical overview, I still see no connection between Kazan and Northern Caucasses. Since Astrakhan geographically is NOT a part of it. By conquering Astrakhan Ivan the Terrible did NOT conquer Northern Caucasses.
5) I appreciate your acknowlegement that Russia not always acted on irrational aggresive instincts, but sometimes due to the vital questions of her survival.

[twinself]

And I appreciate your acceptance for the idea that Chechnya will be ready for independence one day. Although your present leader isn't much helpful on this issue, putting it mildly. I think you would agree that killing their democratically elected president will now weaken their fierce resistance and convince them that you want only peace and stability for them. Good job!

[twinself]

Russian interest in the region can be traced to 1559 when Ivan the Terrible annexed the Caucasian city of Astrakhan, former site of the Tatar khanate. Forts were built in or near Chechnya's neighbor Daghestan and an alliance was made with the Christian kingdom of Kakhetia in Georgia in an attempt to offset Muslim influence in the area, but further inroads were repulsed by Daghestani and other mountain warriors.

From www.pbs.org

In a series of strategic moves after the fall of Astrakhan in 1556, Russia attempted to annex first the western, then the central, and finally the eastern Caucusus. A variety of strategies were used: outright military conquest, co-option, colonial settlement, and forced Christianization.

From Christians associated for relations in Eastern Europe

Prior to the mid-sixteenth century, Russia had no significant contacts with the peoples of the North Caucasus. The situation changed as a result of Ivan the Terrible's conquest of the khanate of Astrakhan, at the mouth of the Volga River, in 1556. Russia was now a Caspian power and became involved in the conflicts of the North Caucasus. In 1562 the tsar Ivan sent a five hundred men force accompanied by an equal number of Cossack settlers. More parties of Cossacks continued to settle along the lower course of the Terek River and on the foothills of Chechnia. These Cossack communities were composed of runaway serfs, soldiers of fortune, religious dissenters, and those Cossacks whose territories in the Ukraine and along the lower Volga had been absorbed into the expanding Russian state. These Cossack settlers subsequently became known as the Terek Cossacks.

From www.aternativesjournal.com

Taurida, or the Crimea, was Russia’s indeed. However, the poet was premature in hailing the end of the conquest of the Caucasus. His poem and music composed by Joseph Kozlovsky became Russian national anthem in 1791. The Caucasus, however, was still not conquered. In 1817, when General Alexey Yermolov returned victorious from Persia, the war of conquest began. In 1818, the general founded the Groznaya fortress on Sunja River. Ivan the Terrible issued the first order to build a fortress in this particular place immediately after he subjugated Kazan and Astrakhan in the 16th century. Yermolov executed the czar’s order and named the fortress after him (“grozny” means “terrible” in Russian). After the fortress was founded, the main line of defense was moved from the Terek River to the Sunja River. It was believed that within a few years the people who lived in the mountains where Noah’s Arc landed would happily join Russia.

From www.military-en.rian.ru

...just in case you were interested in the history of your nation.