Sadly, Putin has joined a long line of failed Russian leaders. Even Yeltzin had a bigger set.
After the theatre tragedy, Putin should have wiped Chechnya off the map with an all-out offensive.
As another poster so eloquently put it, Putin has already played his scorched-earth card.
I watched it happening on Russian TV.
When the Russians went into Chechnya, they destroyed schools, apartment buildings, homes, hospitals, mosques, churches, synagogues, factories, warehouses, department and grocery stores, historical and heritage sites, all without prejudice.
I saw this while I was in Russia in January and March of 2002.
While the Europeons were wringing their hands over the "barbaric American" bombinb of Afghanistan, they didn't mention a word about what the Russians were doing in Chechnya.
Not that the Chechens didn't deserve it, mind, you.
They did.
Problem for Russia is that the Chechen Islamo-fascists found places to hide out and are waging their terror campaign from safe harbors in neighboring states.
It may be time for Putin to adopt the Bush doctrine.
If you ain't with us, you're against us.