This Could Be Us

This could be us. On Wednesday, Sept 1, appx 30 terrorists entered a school on opening day and took anywhere from 800 to 1000 people hostage. For the full story, best translated from the Russian television, go to this site Logic and Sanity.


No. This isn't America. This is Russia. A school full of children and parents and teachers were taken hostage on Wednesday, Sept 1, 2004 by terrorists. I post this picture for two reasons: 1) This is the future we have to look forward to. The terrorists have upped the ante once again. It is not sufficient that children be innocent bystanders and accidental victims in adult driven violence. Today, they have become the direct victims of terrorist actions. Without mercy, without compassion, the terrorists took the lives of innocent people doing nothing more than taking their children to school. When many children tried to escape the school, the terrorist began shooting and beating them with their guns. Many of the victims appear to be under the age af 14, if not younger. 2) This man wears an American flag in th heart of Russia. We are hated? I think not. Further, it is a scary reminder that this could be us. This man could be any man in the US on any given day.

For a historical look at the Chechen/Russia civil war and how it has turned into an Islamic Jihad movement, go to the inner sanctum.

The terrorist appeared to be from the Chechen based group Second Group of Salakhin Riadus Shakhidi, a rebel contingent believed to be headed by Chechnya's most notorious rebel commander, Shamil Basayev. This is an Islamic separatist group in Chechnya.

Chechnya is a province of Russia in the south. It borders Georgia, which is a break away Republic of the old Soviet Union. Chechnya has been fighting for it's independence form Russia for over 10 years. Chechnya has a large Muslim population as do neighboring Republics of Dagestan, Kazahkstan, Aberjhian, Tajikstan. All of these areas were once known as the "Caucuses" and inhabited by independent tribes. These areas were first conquered by Czar Nicholas I in 1859 and incorporated into Russia proper. Only large military presence by Russia in these areas have kept these republics within the Russian borders for well over a century.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, many of these regions separated from the new Russian Republic while the government and control of the military was still in question. During it's time as a Russian province, the people of Chechnya were subject to many brutal laws and purges. Particularly during the reign of Stalin when thousands were deported to Siberia and Kazakhstan on suspicion of collaborating with Germany. Southern Russia is rich in oil. During WWII, cut off from shipments of oil from other countries, Germany made a bid to push through and capture the Russian oil fields and supply their own needs. German Nazi Islamic brigades were formed in Serbia, Albania, Uzbekistan and CHECHNYA: Nazi Roots of Islamists and Islam's Nazi Connection; confirming Stalin's paranoia and causing the purges of 1944 after the German's were repelled at Stalingrad. Considering Stalin was born in nearby Georgia, the turning of the Caucus region must have been quite a shock.

When Chechnya attempted to claim it's independence once again in 1991, then President Boris Yeltsin refused to recognize their independence. In 1994, as Chechnya attempted to continue to assert it's independence, the Chechen rebels committed their first terrorist act by kidnapping Russian government officials, their families and other figures, prompting the Russian government to send troops.

It's worth noting that the tactics of the rebels change over time. Even though the rebels are largely Muslim, they do not at first, use the tactics of suicide bombings or other terrorist tools. As the fighting goes on, the Chechen rebels are joined by Mujihadeen from countries like Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and other Islamic countries and groups. It is well documented that Al-Qaida offered training for these rebels and was instrumental in developing their core strategies for defeating the Russian troops. Not surprising, they have had some success in this area considering these are the same groups that defeated Russia in Afghanistan. Russia has as yet to develop new fighting tactics.

The turning point for this assistance must be seen as about 1999, when the mujihadeen assistance appears to begin to take over the movement. Before that, in 1995 - 1998, the tactics of the rebels seem to be those of any small armed groups, hiding in the mountains and performing guerilla tactics against the larger armed forces.

1996 Russia sends 100k troops into Chechnya, but refuses to use maximum force against the capital for fear of the number of casualties. However, estimates place casualties on both sides, including civilians, up to 70k. Russian withdraws it's army but still refuses to recognize Chechen independence. During this time, there are ever escalating human rights violations on both sides as Russian troops take people from their homes and execute them without trial on suspicion of being a member of the rebellion. Rebels take hostages and summarily execute any Russian soldier that falls into their hands.

At first, the rebels execute the soldiers with a simple shot to the head. Later, as the mujihadeen begin taking over the leadership, torture and beheadings of hostages and prisoners become common place. The stories of the executions run rife through the Russian military and the response is an ever more brutal put down of the rebels. Russian soldiers begin killing themselves by strapping grenades and other incendiary devices to themselves should they be wounded or taken prisoner.

During this time, the west has stood silent, preferring to see these actions as strictly in internal civil war for Russia, although, there are some grumblings about the conduct of the "professional" soldiers as well as the rebels. Since the atrocities seem mutual and there is not way for anyone to just enter Russia with peacekeeping troops and try to resolve the conflict, there is little the west could do to quell the situation from either side.

In 1999, the first inkling that the separatist movement has now turned into an Islamist movement to create Islamic theocracies on Russia's borders is apparent. Chechen separatists join mujihadeen in Dagestan to try and help them break away from Russia as well and install an Islamic government. Russia sends soldiers and the fighting is put down. In the same year, the first use of terrorist bombs within Moscow occurs. This is the same year that the beheading of hostages becomes common place and is video taped for distribution.

Once again, Russia sends 100k troops to Chechnya, but this time the the troops do not stop at the door, but occupy much of Chechnya and pulverize Grozny.

Of note, during this school hostage situation, the terrorists claim that this was in retaliation for the 42k dead children of Chechnya.

The terroristic behavior of the rebels continue to grow. 2002 they take 750 people hostage in a theater. All of the rebels are killed, including women, but so are about 100 hostages when the Russian army uses a new anesthetic gas. In 2003, 11 bomb attacks against Russia. Russia offers Chechnya a roll as a separate Republic within Russia. While this move is accepted by many Chechens as a way to end the bloody civil war, Chechens refuse as the constitution does not fit within the Islamic frame work they had in mind and the "President" seems to be elected with a rigged vote.

The President is later assassinated by a suicide bomber in May 2004. From Aug 24 through Sept 1, multiple suicide bombings of planes, subways and the Russian school hostage situation occurs. In all of these actions, the tactics of the Islamic mujihadeen are readily apparent. They have successfully hijacked a region's bid for independence and turned it into Jihad. Western countries are even more reluctant to condemn Russia's actions against the groups as they are now lumped in with the enemy of the western civilization by allowing the Jihadists to take over. Where before they might have garnered some sympathy due to the Russian tactics of collective punishment, it was squandered when they cast their lot with the Jihadists.

Certainly, once the Jihadist arrived, their tactics were increasingly successful, as I pointed out, Russia has learned little about fighting successful guerilla wars since their days in Afghanistan. However, it is apparent that Russia will not simply give in, no matter how many terrorist actions. It is also apparent that Russia is willing to take casualties in it's civilian population in order to stick by their rule of not negotiating with terrorists. Chechnya is a strategic area. It is the way of oil pipelines and the oil rich Caspian sea. Russia will not simply lie down and let it slip away. This seems like the most futile struggle on the part of the Chechens.

According to the latest story, Russia stormed the building with spetzna (special forces) troops after many gunshots and explosions were heard. Hundreds were wounded and the latest reports indicate upwards of 250 dead including men, women and children. Russian officials indicate that at least 9 of the dead were Arab or Sudanese and not Chechen natives.

I point to this picture and say "This Could Be Us" for the simple reason that, now that the Chechen rebellion has been joined by the Islamist, their terror tactics have escalated to taking a school full of children hostage and killing them. All be it, after some negotiations occurred, it seems apparent that the rebels knew they would not leave the area alive and had nothing to lose. This is the fear of every American. That our children might someday be in school and terrorist will blow it up without discussion. If they are willing to do it in Chechnya, they are willing to do it here.

Does that mean that we should not send our children to school? No. They are in danger just walking down the street or playing in the yard.

The real question is: How will Russia respond? What does that mean for our future? If the same happened here, what would our response be?

A blow of this magnitude would have far reaching consequences in our society. Would it mean instant isolation and attempts to open dialogues or instant retaliation of the massive kind or would it mean a continued slow plodding ahead on our current policy as we work through the middle east, continuing to take casualties?

I will be waiting to see what Russia's response is.

Interesting how the US is demonized as empire building for the purpose of oil, but the Islamists seem the most interested in creating their new Caliphate over the entire oil region. Any guess why that is? Read my other posts on the enemy and you will find out.

An interesting note: I read five stories and watched CNN, MSNBC, Fox news and BBC. All channels but Fox referred to the terrorists as either "Islamic hostage takers"; "Chechen rebels"; "militants"; "gunmen"; etc. Fox referred to them as "terrorists".

There seems to be some aversion to using this word in the public sector. Apparently, some news organizations have taken the stand that "terrorism" is a tactic and not a group of people and can be used by anyone, including us, to intimidate the enemy. One person recently indicated that the "shock and awe" bombing of Iraq could be referred to as "terrorism" as it was intended to terrorize the enemy and make them flee the battle field.

All of these things are true, but I think these news groups are deliberately trying to separate the current connotation of the word from it's base in an effort to force their own meaning or descriptions of these people as "rebels" or "resistance", etc.

News flash for the news: Once a group of men and women run into a school with bombs and guns; summarily execute some of their victims and threaten to blow up or shoot any remaining victims unless their demands are met, they are terrorists.

Once any group of men and women take part in this behavior, they are no longer rebels. They have demonized their movement and should be treated as such by any civilized person.

Moral equivalence by any person that tries to equate a war against a government, fought with weapons between two armed forces, where civilians MIGHT be injured and compare it to 30 armed men and women purposefully killing men, women and children, is bizarre. I've said it to many people: that is not sophisticated, that indicates a lack of morals.

Try calling these folks what they are now: Islamic Terrorists. They should now be counted among our enemies as they have just moved the goal posts of depraved human behavior.

Sources

Chechen Timeline