On Chechnya and "Giving In" to Terrorism
A reason to question the war on terror.
Basayev was not a good man. Anyone who jeopardizes the lives of children in an effort to make their point is not a good person. I do not condone his behavior or those of the terrorist camp of Chechen fighters for independence. What I want to do is ask what could have been done to prevent this.
How many lives would have been spared if, after the fall of the USSR, Chechnya was granted independence? There are many who would agree with Russia that, since Chechnya did not have independence prior to the formation of the Soviet Union, they could not claim it afterward (a bit of a fallacy as they only reason that the states of the Caucasus were integrated into Russia were the attempts of Russia to add the states of Persia and Turkey to their own holdings). There are many who would agree that Russia was presented with the same problem as Lincoln: to unite the nation rather than divide it. This is, to a point true. One of the more important reasons, however, was Chechnya’s strategic position in relation to the flow of oil into Russia and it’s association with Islam.
In a fashion typical of the larger nations, Russia moved to protect its oil before its people or those of the Chechen people. And any attempt by Chechnya, terrorist or peaceful, to secede was presented as the attempt of a small group of Russians attempting to set up their own Muslim State. They were painted as the finger that would start a domino effect of Russian states seceding and thus destroying the great nation of Russia.
But one has to wonder how different things would be if Russia had allowed to secession or maybe even assisted the small nation. Would they have created a friend in a Muslim state? It is certain that the Beslan school disaster would not have happened. The first attempt to establish a Muslim state in Chechnya (and the surrounding Caucasus area) was by a Sufi, a Muslim mystic. The Sufis tend toward the internal jihad, the more literal interpretation of the Koran, and are firm believers in peace where peace can be had. With the support of Russia in regard to Chechnya, who is to say that there would not be a Muslim state more friendly to the West as a result?
Most actions of war are knee-jerk reactions when viewed against the backdrop of history. Sometimes it is a necessity and sometimes it is simply a political ploy which goes horribly wrong. It is important that the consequences be thought out and studied before decisions such as this are made. Once you have entered a stage such as the one Russia faces along with the U.S. and Israel, one is often stuck with the role one has chosen. If Russia, Israel, or the U.S. give the terrorists what they want, they could be paving the way for future attacks as the result of allowing victory. These states have painted themselves into corners from which they cannot easily escape. And all for want of thinking ahead.
Basayev was not a good man. Anyone who jeopardizes the lives of children in an effort to make their point is not a good person. I do not condone his behavior or those of the terrorist camp of Chechen fighters for independence. What I want to do is ask what could have been done to prevent this.
How many lives would have been spared if, after the fall of the USSR, Chechnya was granted independence? There are many who would agree with Russia that, since Chechnya did not have independence prior to the formation of the Soviet Union, they could not claim it afterward (a bit of a fallacy as they only reason that the states of the Caucasus were integrated into Russia were the attempts of Russia to add the states of Persia and Turkey to their own holdings). There are many who would agree that Russia was presented with the same problem as Lincoln: to unite the nation rather than divide it. This is, to a point true. One of the more important reasons, however, was Chechnya’s strategic position in relation to the flow of oil into Russia and it’s association with Islam.
In a fashion typical of the larger nations, Russia moved to protect its oil before its people or those of the Chechen people. And any attempt by Chechnya, terrorist or peaceful, to secede was presented as the attempt of a small group of Russians attempting to set up their own Muslim State. They were painted as the finger that would start a domino effect of Russian states seceding and thus destroying the great nation of Russia.
But one has to wonder how different things would be if Russia had allowed to secession or maybe even assisted the small nation. Would they have created a friend in a Muslim state? It is certain that the Beslan school disaster would not have happened. The first attempt to establish a Muslim state in Chechnya (and the surrounding Caucasus area) was by a Sufi, a Muslim mystic. The Sufis tend toward the internal jihad, the more literal interpretation of the Koran, and are firm believers in peace where peace can be had. With the support of Russia in regard to Chechnya, who is to say that there would not be a Muslim state more friendly to the West as a result?
Most actions of war are knee-jerk reactions when viewed against the backdrop of history. Sometimes it is a necessity and sometimes it is simply a political ploy which goes horribly wrong. It is important that the consequences be thought out and studied before decisions such as this are made. Once you have entered a stage such as the one Russia faces along with the U.S. and Israel, one is often stuck with the role one has chosen. If Russia, Israel, or the U.S. give the terrorists what they want, they could be paving the way for future attacks as the result of allowing victory. These states have painted themselves into corners from which they cannot easily escape. And all for want of thinking ahead.