I disagree. This is related to Russia and the US. They are still operating in the mode odf Spain. They believe that if the can do something that will just indicate to us of what they may do to us that support for Bush will decrease.
I think this is an attempt to affect the polls coming out concerning the convention. Look at when the standoff ended. Al Q has a global strategy.
It is similar to what the Dems are doing now, trying to affect the polls between now and Monday.
Chechen separatists have been launching attacks on Russia for years, well before 9/11.
There is no doubt that they have support from al-Qa'eda, not least because they all fought together with the Mujahudeen in Afghanistan in the 80s. Consequently they are united in their hatred of Moscow, whether it is communist or not.
But this is the fourth siege of its kind to end in bloodshed. The primary objective of these terrorists is the independence of Chechnya.
Nonetheless attacks like these, especially when there are no American casualties, serve to bolster President Bush. It is not as though this was an attack on a country like Spain that had troops in Iraq.