Suicide Bombers Kill 38 in Moscow
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http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/03/29...dex.html?hpt=T2
Moscow, Russia (CNN) -- Russian investigators combing two subway stations attacked by female suicide bombers think Chechen rebels may have been behind the rush-hour strike that killed dozens of people.
"Our preliminary assessment is that this act of terror was committed by a terrorist group from the North Caucasus region," Alexander Bortnikov of the Federal Security Service said of the investigation at one of the blast sites.
"We consider this the most likely scenario, based on investigations conducted at the site of the blast," Bortnikov said. "Fragments of the suicide bombers' body found at the blast, according to preliminary findings, indicate that the bombers were from the North Caucasus region."
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the "terrorists" responsible for the Moscow subway attacks Monday "will be destroyed."
"We are providing Moscow metro with additional CCTV cameras. Today's events show we should not only continue this work but to make it more effective. Changes in legislation may be necessary."
The two explosions that rocked the subway stations in central Moscow during rush hour killed at least 38 people and wounded more than 60 others, spawning widespread public outrage.
"It's disgusting," one witness said. "I don't know who did it and what they wanted. Life is so short. How could people commit such terrible acts?"
Although the they have yet to claim responsibility, Bortnikov's statement is a strong implication that Chechen rebels fighting for independence were behind the strike.
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Because the government is harder to target than civilians. Attacking civilians spreads fear throughout the population. Terrorism is a very effective means of disruption. If they were a superpower, then I don't doubt they'd go toe-to-toe with the Russian military, but they aren't, and a conventional war against the Russians would be... well... suicide, but it'd be much less effective than this.
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Because the government is harder to target than civilians. Attacking civilians spreads fear throughout the population. Terrorism is a very effective means of disruption. If they were a superpower, then I don't doubt they'd go toe-to-toe with the Russian military, but they aren't, and a conventional war against the Russians would be... well... suicide, but it'd be much less effective than this.
Because the government is harder to target than civilians. Attacking civilians spreads fear throughout the population. Terrorism is a very effective means of disruption. If they were a superpower, then I don't doubt they'd go toe-to-toe with the Russian military, but they aren't, and a conventional war against the Russians would be... well... suicide, but it'd be much less effective than this.
Too Bad the russian government is afraid to respond in kind.
WSS
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Because the government is harder to target than civilians. Attacking civilians spreads fear throughout the population. Terrorism is a very effective means of disruption. If they were a superpower, then I don't doubt they'd go toe-to-toe with the Russian military, but they aren't, and a conventional war against the Russians would be... well... suicide, but it'd be much less effective than this.
Too Bad the russian government is afraid to respond in kind.
WSS
Too Bad the russian government is afraid to respond in kind.
They have in the past, but it's not been good for either side.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Chechen_War
The First Chechen War occurred in a two year period lasting from 1994 to 1996, when Russian forces attempted to stop Chechnya from seceding. Despite overwhelming manpower, weaponry and air support, the Russian forces were unable to establish effective control over the mountainous area due to many successful Chechen guerrilla raids. The Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis in 1995 shocked the Russian public and discredited Chechen guerrillas. Widespread demoralization of the Russian forces in the area and a successful offensive on Grozny by Chechen independantist forces lead by Aslan Maskhadov prompted Russian President Boris Yeltsin to declare a ceasefire in 1996 and sign a peace treaty a year later.
The war was disastrous for both sides. Most estimates give figures of between 3,500 and 7,500 Russian military dead, between 3,000 and 15,000 Chechen militants dead, and no fewer than 35,000 civilian deaths—a total of at least 41,500 dead. Others have cited figures in the range of 80,000 to 100,000.
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