Mephisto2

I recommend reading the following analysis of the crisis in Chechnya.
http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/Chechnya.asp

It certainly does not tow the currently popular "the Chechans are fully to blame" line, specifically highlighting the abuses of Russia on the Chechen people.

Having said that, for those of you who have claimed that the West has not criticised the Russians for their Chechen policy however, I refer to the following.

All the way back to Yeltsin, when Clinton called for European mediation (1999) - http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s67450.htm

Three days before the hostage taking, Schroder and Chirac call for political solution and question Putin on his Chechen policy - http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,336...57_1_A,00.html

Council of Europe calls for Russia to improve conduct in Chechnya - http://www.cdi.org/russia/190-10.cfm

Debate in the European Parliament critical of Russia's actions in Chechnya - http://www3.europarl.eu.int/omk/omns...C&NUMINT=4-007


Mr Mephisto

The Phenomenon

Very interesting, and thanks for posting.

Inline with what I said in your other Russia/Chechnya thread

nanofever

My view on situations where a large, regional group of people want their own state and have a valid claim is to give said state as soon as possible. Chechnya, in my opinion, seems to be moving from "we want independence" terrorism to "we want the Russian state destroyed" terrorism. Russia can stop the "we want independence" terrorism but, the "we want the Russian state destroyed" is significantly harder to stop.

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Originally Posted by Norseman on another forum:
"Yeah, the problem with the world is the stupid people are all cocksure of themselves and the intellectuals are full of doubt."

Mephisto2

Nanofever,

an interesting position. I guess it's akin to saying that the terrorism/freedom fighting has moved on from a fight for independence, to a war of retribution. And I agree, the latter is significantly more difficult to fight.

This is one of the motivating factors that alledgedly helps create the so-called "Black Widows"; the Chechen female suicide bombers in Moscow. They are striking back in revenge for lost loved ones.

Of course, the fact that one was apprehended before detonating her bomb and has subsequently used in her defence the claim that they were drugged and brainwashed, does not help that argument.

I'm not sure where it really lies now. It's a difficult situation. I abhore the actions of the Chechen seperatists and the Russians alike. It's curious to see that Putin was elected on a platform of cracking down on the Chechens, that his popularity is still relatively high and that the majority of Russians support his hardline position. In the West, I should imagine public opinion would be screaming out for disengagement and "let them rot" attitude.

I guess that's just another difference between the Russian pysche and that of the typical Westerner.


Mr Mephisto

The Phenomenon

I do believe this is the case.

They are just looking to cause damage now - nothing else.

They have lost any hope for independance and freedom.