Posted on 10/29/2002 11:03:45 AM PST by Destro
Russian military in Chechnya thirsting for revenge
October 30 2002
The Moscow hostage crisis in which 117 theatre-goers died has fired Russian troops in Chechnya with dreams of vengeance, and many are fretting about legal constraints that might hold them back.
"The hostage-taking proves we must fight the terrorists, and not only in Chechnya. But we are in a difficult situation," Maxim, a Russian army sergeant said.
"Every time we arrest a suspect, local officials come protesting and Chechen women stage a rally," he complained.
That view is widespread among Russian troops who have been strongly criticised by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for paying scant regard to human rights or basic legality in their fight against "terrorism."
Russia has branded its anti-insurgency campaign against Chechen separatists as part of the international campaign against terrorism despite the thinness of the evidence linking rebel Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov to known terror networks such as al-Qaeda.
"This is a real war for us, with explosions and battles every day. But we can do nothing - officially we have only civilians around," Maxim said.
Moscow relaunched its so-called "anti-terrorist operation" in Chechnya in October 1999 after a three-year period of de facto independence in the southern republic, but has so far been unable to stamp its authority on the mountainous terrain or eliminate guerrilla activity despite the presence of 80,000 troops and police.
Russian military in Chechnya blamed a failure of the intelligence services for last week's hostage-taking in which a heavily-armed 50-strong commando brought large quantities of explosives into the heart of Moscow and took over a popular theatre.
Several officers called for a detailed program for fighting terrorism to be implemented in Chechnya and throughout Russia.
"Unless there is such a program, there will be no peace or stability," Oleg, a 30-year-old officer, said.
"We know these scoundrels well. It's unlikely the terrorist act in Moscow was the last," Maxim said.
"Russia's public has begun to forget the war in Chechnya. The government must understand that the war is not over and that we must go to the bitter end and wipe out all the terrorists," he added.
Security in the Chechen capital Grozny has been stepped up since the hostage-taking crisis and its bloody denouement.
"We will not forget anyone. We are already working on getting the rest of the group led by Movsar Barayev," the leader of the Chechen commando in Moscow, an officer at a Grozny checkpost said.
The crisis was resolved early on Saturday as Russian special forces mounted an assault, pumping the theater full of gas that stunned the rebels but also poisoned the hostages, of whom 115 died.
Meanwhile, Chechens living in and around Moscow have begun reporting harassment and summary detention by Russian police.
AFP
Hell on earth is comming to the jihad.
I am sure Sgt. Maxim and AG Ashcroft could commiserate together.
The Russians should take a lesson from the way we got rid of our "Indian Problem": we killed those who refused to surrender, the rest we rounded up and shipped to reservations to starve. Not pretty - but, it was effective
The sad part of modern Chechen history is that they obtained substantial self-determination and autonoamy from Russia in 1996. Instead of building a nation, the Chechens embarked on a life of criminal banditry, rape, kidnapping and mutliation of each other and anyone foolish enough to come near them. Then they embraced radical Jihadism and invited fanatic Arabs into their miste - kind-hearted folks like Khattab, "The Butcher". Then they whooped themselves into Islamic fury, gave themselves names such as "wolves of Chechnya" and set off to conquere Russia. They didn't get very far.
Now they find themselves in a hell-hole of their own making and want the world to take pity on them.
Forget it, Chechens. You folks don't deserve any pity or human compassion. You folks sought to get your way by terror and now you will be consumed by terror imposed by the Russians.
Ivan can kill all the terrorists he wants. I won't shed a tear, I will cheer.
Russian people have historically risen to ruthlessly defend their homes against far more dangerous enemies than the Chechens. Once Putin gives the order to rid Moscow of Chechens they will be hunted down throughout the city.
I certainly they get it!
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