The Russian School Seige

[gokufusionss1]

any action while singly involves a threat towards civilians is to me a terrorist action.
hence these guys are terrorists.

[Loony BoB]

Just to clarify, from dictionary.com on 'terrorism':

The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

They were indeed terrorists. If the American army held Russian schoolkids as hostages when fighting Russia, they too would be terrorists, since they would target innocents in an attempt to manipulate others.

[Doomgaze]

Chechens holding schoolchildren hostage - Terrorism
Iraqis ambushing US soldiers or bombing military bases - Not Terrorism
Iraqis beheading independent contractors - Terrorism

[Casey]

Putin should just let go of Chechenia, there are great cultural differences between the two countries. Just give Chechenia independance. You can say its kind of like how the USA was fighting for independance against Britain back in the colony days, but there murdering innocent people, which is another different thing. Like a couple weeks ago Chechenian woman, who call themselves the 'black widows' hi-jacked a plane full of innocent people and crashed it. It isnt right to use 'terror' by killing innocent people, and trying to get independance that way... Hell those peeps that were on that plane probably had relatives in Chechenia, and to blow it up is just messed up.

Iraqis ambushing US soldiers or bombing military bases - Not Terrorism

It is terrorism. You forget that not only Iraqis are fighting over there against U.S. and coalitions forces. Theres a lot of foreign fighters/terrorists coming in from bordering countries. Like that Al Sadar guy isnt even Iraqi, he's from Iran. Theres also alot of hatred in the Muslim world, so its obvious that there has to be foreign fighters/terrorists going in Iraq... Just like the 9/11 hi-jackers. Most of them were from Saudi Arabia, and came here on Iraqi passports... They just want to come in there and disrupt the democracy that is about to happen.

[War Angel]

It is terrorism.

Terrorism is ONLY against civilians targets.

[Psychotic]

Putin should just let go of Chechenia, there are great cultural differences between the two countries. Just give Chechenia independance.

Then he's giving in to terrorism. Any time anyone wants something, they'll learn from this they just have to storm a school and can have anything they want. Or at least, that's what they'll think.

[Casey]

Terrorism is ONLY against civilians targets.

No it can be against military targets to. Like what about one of the planes that crashed in Pennslvania during 9/11, that plane was on its course towards Washington D.C. and the White House. Mostly intended to kill President Bush, who is are commander and cheif at the moment. Terrorism is the act of doing something horrific, to get what you want. It shouldnt matter if your a civilian or in the military.

Then he's giving in to terrorism. Any time anyone wants something, they'll learn from this they just have to storm a school and can have anything they want. Or at least, that's what they'll think.

Yeah your right but, whats the point in having Chechnya under there occupied control. When the country itself wants its independance. Dont get me wrong though, those people that blew up that plane, those 'black widows' and those guys that took hostage that Russian school, there not going to get there Independance that way. Hell, Chechnya has been trying to get its Independance for years now.

NVM.The reason why Russia wont let them have it is because of the oil that is in Chechnya.

http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/ntr64804.htm

But yeah you guys are right... Russia a super power needs that oil. So it wouldnt make any sense to me now for Russia to give it up...

[nik0tine]

French from France? People from France?

Sarcastic? some people are sarcastic?

[Carnage]

I saw a thing a couple weeks ago about a train that was being held by terrorists. They had hostages. So the russians threw some gernades in. Our (american) police look like mickey mouse compared to them. I like our way better (no offense russia).

[nik0tine]

This whole situation was just uncalled for, and both the chyechen rebels and the russians are to blame.

The Chechens Terrorize, the Russians oppress and brutalize. This whole thing is unforgiveable in my opinion.

[fire_of_avalon]

I agree with noname, here. From what I've been reading today (which is probably just the tip of the iceberg in this case) there's no real reason for Russia to keep Chechnya under their control. 1) Chechnya wants to be free. 2) There are very very VERY few cultural similarities between Russia and Chechnya and 3) Chechnya is a consistent problem for Russia. A problem which could become very expensive in the future.

Honestly, the more I look at it (for now), the more I see a striking resemblance between present day Chechnya and the Republic of Ireland during the early twentieth century.

[Dr Unne]

I don't think that holding children hostage is acceptable if there are any other alternatives, and there pretty much always are. In fact I'm having trouble imagining a situation where it would be justified, but anyways. From what I heard on the news today, when the Russians broke into the place and started freeing hostages, the Chechens started shooting hostages in the back as they ran. My gut reaction to that kind of thing is not favorable.

[aeris2001x2]

i,m seeing the pictures and it makes me physically sick and brings tears to my eyes.

these terriosts are scum. the russian special forces are idiots, how many times do they screw up these hostage situations? and the Russian government are bastards 4 creating this situation because of the way they have handled the Chechnya war.

when is the Russian election? Putin must surely be out of a job now.

i just feel so sorry for the victims of this attack. i hate it how in these recent conflicts and terriost attacks and wars etc its the innocent that suffer the most.

[Yamaneko]

I'm not going to go on a rant about this. I've been talking to my mom all day about this, but I will say this: No way in hell if I were Putin would I hand over Chechnya to these extremists. Chechnya is part of Russia, why should Russia hand it over to a group of people who will make the government into a theocracy, and would most likely mismanage its authority, and ruin the economy more than it is already? The world doesn't need another third world country on its hands.

These thick-skulled terrorists need to learn to live together with the Russians.

If I were Putin, now would be the time to do something about this terrorists problem. And no way in hell would I give these people what they want.

As for the school, that's just cowardly. Murdering women and children for a ridiculous cause is beyond me. I feel for those mothers that lost their children.

[aeris2001x2]

that sort of attitude led to 9/11...