Article

2003-08-28 Caucasus

Quagmire

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Posted by Tom Schaller 2003-08-28 9:57:29 PM|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 If Islamic Terrorists win in Chechnya they will be emboldened throughout the world. They will have a rallying cry, a source of motivation and a boost to their moral.

What I don't understand is, why don't the Russians get serious with them? It seems like the Russians should be able to smash them pretty ruthlessly. The Russians don't give a damn about world opinion, and they don't care about civillian casualities when there is a job to be done, (not even their own like when they had to shut down the theather seige in Moscow). So what is going to happen there? Do the Chechens have a chance?

Posted by g wiz 2003-8-28 10:16:04 PM|| 2003-8-28 10:16:04 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 The Russers are serious with them. Their problem is the Russian military. I haven't looked in detail in ten years, not since the Soviets folded, but then it was staff-heavy and initiative-light. Many of the officers are very good, very professional -- but the organizational structure left room for lots of time-servers and hacks, too. The enlisted ranks were just about hopeless, not because of the quality of inductees, but because of the structure.

Former Russian Major used to post here. I'll bet he could tell some fairly hair-raising stories.

Posted by Fred 2003-8-28 10:54:01 PM|| 2003-8-28 10:54:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Their problem is the Russian military

Very true. The problem is also corruption. Most of the Russian conscripted troops come from provincial town and cities. You won't see many from Moscow and St. Petersburg. Would you have the heart to fight knowing that you were sent there only because your family didn't have the resources to bribe certain officials?

Posted by Raphael 2003-8-28 11:27:09 PM|| 2003-8-28 11:27:09 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 "Basayev's a nasty sonofabitch, regardless of the number of times the Washington Post whines about "human rights abuses" by the Russers."

The whining about tens of thousands civilians dead in Grozny, you mean?

Perhaps *you* like it when a Christian nations kills tens of thousands of Muslims, because they are vile infidels after all, but I don't see it that way.

I have no reason to believe that the Russians are one shred better than any Islamic terrorist in the region.

Chechenya *should* be a wedge between Russia and the civilised world.

"The Nord-Ost Theater episode was enough to settle things once and for all for me â but then, I suppose my attention span's too long. I'd make a lousy journalist or diplomat."

The Nord-Ost Theater where the Russians killed terrorists and hostages alike without much if any discrimination you mean?

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2003-8-29 1:24:39 PM|| 2003-8-29 1:24:39 PM|| Front Page Top

15:43 Flaming Sword
20:38 Super Hose
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11:39 Aris Katsaris
10:09 Highlander
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23:54 GregJ
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