Getting Ugly in Russia

[DanaC]

No Bruce they arent looking for palliatives and they arent seeking words of comfort. What they want is a simple and achievable thing. They want their statehood, they want their population not to be terrorised year after year. If all we see is the terrorist and his bombbelts then we are not looking at the picture as a whole. We have to see what the struggle is and whether, at it's core it is a reasonable demand ( the unreasonable tactics employed in achieving that notwithstanding)

The Chechens have made reasonable demands of Russia and Russia has responded unreasonably. In response to this the Chechens again made reasonable demands. Russia again responded unreasonably. Now a small number of Chechen rebels have begun to act unreasonably.

Obviously if I was in any way involved with that situation, if I was for instance a Russian mother whose child was facing a second night of the siege I very much doubt I would be able to see the Chechen's point of view. Here many miles away i have the luxury of being able to take an objective look at the situation.

Interestingly, whilst there hasnt been a massive outcry ( that I know of) from the Russian people over their government's treatment of the Chechens, the Chechens themselves are staging protests to object to their rebels' treatment of Russian children.