Posted on 09/05/2004 1:16:11 AM PDT by N. Beaujon
BESLAN, Russia (AP) - A shaken President Vladimir Putin made a rare and candid admission of Russian weakness Saturday in the face of an "all-out war" by terrorists after more than 340 people - nearly half of them children - were killed in a hostage-taking at a southern school.
Putin went on national television to tell Russians they must mobilize against terrorism. He promised wide-ranging reforms to toughen security forces and purge corruption.
"We showed weakness, and weak people are beaten," he said in a speech aimed at addressing the grief, shock and anger felt by many after a string of attacks that have killed some 450 people in the past two weeks, apparently in connection with the war in Chechnya.
Shocked relatives wandered among row after row of bodies lined up in black or clear plastic body bags on the pavement at a morgue in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia, where the dead from the school standoff in the town of Beslan were taken. In some open bags lay the contorted, thin bodies of children, some monstrously charred.
In Beslan, people scoured lists of names to see if their loved ones survived the chaos of the day before, when the standoff turned violent Friday as militants set off explosives in the school and commandos moved in to seize the building.
Beslan residents were allowed to enter the burned-out husk that was once the gymnasium of School No. 1, where more than 1,000 hostages were held during the 62-hour ordeal that started Wednesday. The gym's roof was destroyed, windows shattered, walls pocked with bullet holes.
Regional Emergency Situations Minister Boris Dzgoyev said 323 people, including 156 children, were killed. More than 540 people were wounded - mostly children. Medical officials said 448 people, including 248 children, remained hospitalized Saturday evening.
Dzgoyev also said 35 attackers - heavily-armed and explosive-laden men and women reportedly demanding independence for the Chechen republic - were killed in 10 hours of battles that shook the area around the school with gunfire and explosions.
Putin made a quick visit to the town before dawn Saturday, meeting local officials and touring a hospital to speak with wounded. He stopped to stroke the head of an injured child.
But some in the region were unimpressed, as grief turned to anger, both at the militants and the government response.
Marat Avsarayev, a 44-year-old taxi driver in Vladikavkaz, questioned why Putin and other politicians didn't "even think about fulfilling the (militants') demands to save the lives of the children. Probably because it wasn't their children here."
During his visit to Beslan, Putin stressed that security officials had not planned to storm the school - trying to fend off potential criticism that the government side provoked the bloodshed. He ordered the region's borders closed while officials searched for anyone connected to the attack.
"What happened was a terrorist act that was inhuman and unprecedented in its cruelty," Putin said in his televised speech later. "It is a challenge not to the president, the parliament and the government but a challenge to all of Russia, to all of our people. It is an attack on our nation."
Including the school disaster, more than 450 people have been killed in the past two weeks in violence. Two planes crashed nearly simultaneously on Aug. 24, killing 90 people, and a suicide bomber killed eight people in Moscow on Tuesday. Chechen separatists are suspected in both attacks.
Putin took a defiant tone, acknowledging Russia's weaknesses but blaming it on the fall of the Soviet Union, foreign foes seeking to tear apart Russia and on corrupt officials. He said Russians could no longer live "carefree" and must all confront terrorism.
Measures would be taken, Putin promised, to overhaul the law enforcement organs, which he acknowledged had been infected by corruption, and tighten borders.
"We are obliged to create a much more effective security system and to demand action from our law enforcement organs that would be adequate to the level and scale of the new threats," he said.
An unidentified intelligence official was quoted by the ITAR-Tass news agency as saying the school assault was financed by Abu Omar As-Seyf, an Arab who allegedly represents al-Qaida in Chechnya, and masterminded by Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev.
Also, the Federal Security Service chief in North Ossetia, Valery Andreyev, said Saturday that investigators were looking into whether militants had smuggled explosives and weapons into the school and hid them during a renovation this summer.
It was still unclear exactly how the standoff fell apart into bloodshed at 1 p.m. on Friday. Officials say security forces were forced to act when hostage-takers set off explosives. But some questioned that version.
The militants seized the school on the first day of classes Wednesday, herding hundreds of children, parents who had been dropping their kids off, and other adults into the gymnasium, which the militants promptly wired with explosives - including bombs hanging from the basketball hoops. The packed gym became sweltering, and the hostage-takers refused to allow in food or water.
One survivor, Sima Albegova, told the Kommersant newspaper she asked the militants why the captives were taken. "Because you vote for your Putin," one militant told her, she said.
Another freed hostage said a militant told her, "If Putin doesn't withdraw forces from Chechnya and doesn't free our arrested brothers, we'll blow everything up," according to the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.
Russian officials said the violence began when explosions were apparently set off by the militants - possibly by accident - as emergency workers entered the school courtyard to collect the bodies of hostages killed in the initial raid Wednesday.
Diana Gadzhinova, 14, said the militants ordered her and other hostages to lie face down in the gymnasium as the bodies were collected.
"They told us that there were going to be talks," she was quoted as telling Iszvestia. Others also told of how militants appeared to be confused and surprised at the initial explosions.
Hostages fled during the blasts, and the militants shot at them, prompting security forces to open fire and commandos to move in, officials said.
The explosions tore through the roof of the gymnasium, sending wreckage down on hostages and killing many. Many survivors emerged naked, covered in ashes and soot, their feet bloody from jumping barefoot out of broken windows to escape.
With families gathering for wakes for the dead Saturday, some were vowing vengeance.
"Fathers will bury their children, and after 40 days (the Orthodox mourning period) ... they will take up weapons and seek revenge," said Alan Kargiyev, a 20-year-old university student in Vladikavkaz.
Waiting 40 days is not a good idea. So much else can happen during that time. You need to strike immediately. There will be time for mourning later.
Or
RECKONING.
ATTENTION ALL LIBERALS: THIS IS YOUR FINAL WAKE-UP CALL.
I read an interview with a child who was in the gymnasium. The terrorists had taped up bombs in various places, including in the basketball goals. The tape came loose from one and the bomb exploded. This apparently killed many hostages and collapsed a portion of the gymnasium roof.
He needs someone good to teach him about fighting the chechens. I pray for that for him.
Guerilla wars are never easy, and the chechens are a warrior culture who are raised to love fighting. They have so many advantages, a mountainous country they know well, a ruthless approach and no conscience, a love of killing and gore.
Putin gets hit by the very strong lack of integrity on the part of the chechens. For instance, a prisoner trade is agreed upon by both sides. The Russians turn over live prisoners, the chechens turn over tortured and mutilated bodies. The Russians negotiate and keep their word, the chechens lie like dogs at every turn.
We never disregard this important time in the church. There are services all along from 3 days to 40 days. It would be completely inappropriate to seek revenge during this time.
i dont think you are so far off--
I think that might be true, but the people didn't want that. The whole town was there with guns. They would not get back.
I wrote on another thread that perhaps when the terrorists are religious extremists that teaching people to run for it might be best.
The terrorists used negotiations to wire up the school with bombs. The terrorists want TV theater for a few days and then for everyone to die.
This way the government will be blamed. Their real target is the government.
People in Rome have offered to take in children from Beslan who need to recoer in quiet.
http://www.rambler.ru/db/news/msg.html?mid=5003844&s=260005083
"Marat Avsarayev, a 44-year-old taxi driver in Vladikavkaz, questioned why Putin and other politicians didn't "even think about fulfilling the (militants') demands to save the lives of the children. Probably because it wasn't their children here."
Amazing how reporters can always find some nitwit to talk to!
These terrorists came to kill-period
The days of hostage taking is over
That is what fooled many on the plane of 9/11, they thought they were being taken hostage, not going to be used as part of an attack
These terrorists came to kill and the event would have ended the way it did no matter what the Russians did.
Moreover, they were killing hostages and denying children water-the Russians could not wait
This school was targeted because it is a Russian Orthodox school.
Killing children is nothing new to these fiends.
A few years back a Jordian guard saw a group of Israeli girls on a sightseeing trip and shot a number of them.
This is what Islam teaches, that any muslim can kill any infidal at any time.
Putin wants this handled by the government. He doesn't want everyone taking up guns. The Caucasus is a really ethicly diverse place. People will just go on the rampage and kill people based on ethnicity and not what crimes they have committed. It will spiral into genocide.
Russian experts have said that if this terrible carnage is used to justify vigilanteeism then we will have given the terrorists a big present. Thousands will die.
I do NOT have faith in the Russian ability to show strength. I absolutely hope I am wrong, but I think they are too drunk, too corrupt, and too disorganized. I pity the Russian children. Their parents are a bunch of losers.
fTD,
Where have you been?
Good to hear from you. Are you no longer visiting the religion threads?
Meanwhile, Kerry wants a more "sensitive", "nuanced" war on terrorism.
Actually, the Russians offered to release some terrorists from prison. Then the terrorists asked for all Russian troups to get out of Chechnya.
I agree these terrorists mainly want to kill. I do disagree that Islam teaches to kill the infidel any time.
I am sure something like this is in the Koran, but Christians and Jews aren't considered infidels. Also, all religions if you take some of their teachings too literally can lead to terrorism. Wahabbi Islam teaches that the religion allows terror. Other Muslims disagree with this.
The scary thing is that once everyone starts classing every muslim as the "enemy" we are doing what the Wahabbis do.
The KKK were terrorists. Christians that bomb abortion clinics are terrorists. Irish Cahtolics and Protestants are terrorists.
Just because the current terrorists are using Islam to justify themselves doesn't mean we should all do likewise.
That's not any different that the communist call for "class warfare."
Bush is fighting terrorism with the FBI, CIA, police, homeland security, foreign friends. That's the way to go.
I do think that schools should have a better plan than "lockdown." Maybe the kids should be told to run for it.
"The Chechens do not all support these extremists"
Balony! If the Chechens do not support these Arabs coming in then THEY need to take care of them
But because they are fellow Muslims they accept their depravity
The Chechens can fight the Russians but not the Arabs coming in to 'help' them?
The only way I would believe this if the Chechens began waging a war against the Arabs in their midst.
As for a 'genocidal war' erupting, what do you consider killing children is?
No, this is more, 'we can't overreact' nonsense, which is exactly what the Muslims want.
They support the Arabs who did this thus they are as responsible for it.
You are for us or the terrorists.
As for the prisoner being killed by the citizens, so what!
The SOB probably figured he would get the EU to come and beg for his worthless life, or some other terror group would take more hostages to free their 'noble warriors'
These are the same people who take to the streets when one of their worthless Mosques are in danger (it is alright for them to use the Mosques to fire out of but we cannot shoot in)
Most Chechens are just worn out. You say the Chechens should handle it. Chechnya is ruled by Russia. The Russians want it that way so they have to handle it. they are the authorities.
The politics of that area is very complicated. The Chechens were deported by Stalin and returned later.
They have several groups that don't like Russian control but not all are these kind of terrorists.
Many Chechens don't like the Russians but could accept Russian rule if they had some control over their lives.They don't necessarily want to be ruled by terrorists.
It is very complicated. You can read some of the different Chechen perspectives at www.rferl.org They have articles about this.
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/09/fb44e811-3fc5-4969-acaa-0e0872d7a80b.html
Here is some background on Chechnya. The main site is www.rferl.org
It is Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty.
Sounds like a plan.
The Russians seem to deliberately tar all Chechens with the Al Qaeda brush. The Russian security says there wer 10 Arabs in the school. People in the town dispute this.
If you have a chance check the info at www.rferl.org
"Even before the 3 September bloodbath, Western press commentaries were arguing that the sole hope for ending the war in Chechnya lies in beginning negotiations with Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov, seen as representing the moderate wing of the Chechen resistance. But Putin's previous conflation of Maskhadov with terrorism and Al-Qaeda suggests the likelihood he would condone any such talks is remote. On 4 September, chechenpress.info reported that the FSB cordoned off the homes in Znamenskoe the previous day, and then arrested the elderly father of Maskhadov's wife Kusama, together with her sister and two brothers and their families, including small children."
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/09/fb44e811-3fc5-4969-acaa-0e0872d7a80b.html
The Russians wouldn't let a RFERL reporter to to Beslan.
http://www.rferl.org/releases/2004/09/265-020904.asp
RFE/RL's Babitsky Arrested At Moscow Airport Trying To Reach Site Of North Ossetia Hostage Standoff
(Prague, Czech Republic--September 2, 2004) RFE/RL Russian Service Correspondent Andrei Babitsky was harassed and detained today by police at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, where he was attempting to fly to southern Russia to cover the ongoing hostage standoff at a school in Beslan, North Ossetia. Babitsky, who in January 2000 was abducted by Russian security officials and held incommunicado for 40 days because of his coverage of the war in Chechnya, has been released, but is due before a local magistrate tomorrow morning (September 3).
Babitsky was first detained at Vnukovo Airport while trying to board a flight from Moscow to the southern Russian city of Mineralnye Vody, from where he planned to continue on to Beslan. Police at the airport accused Babitsky of carrying explosives in his bag. After police searched the bag and found no explosives, Babitsky was released and continued on to await his flight.
While waiting to board the flight, Babitsky was approached by two young men who attempted to provoke a fight with him. Police arrested all three men, took them to the airport police station and then to a medical clinic, where Babitsky was subjected to blood tests on suspicion that he was drunk. Babitsky was eventually joined at the airport police station by his lawyer, who accompanied Babitsky to a local magistrate's office, where he was released pending resolution of his case.
Babitsky is not the only journalist to be harassed while attempting to travel to North Ossetia this week. Babitsky was to be accompanied on his flight to Mineralnye Vody by AFP correspondent Yana Dlugy, who was also stopped on suspicion of carrying explosives and as a result missed the flight. In addition, well-known Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya became seriously ill yesterday during a flight from Moscow to Rostov na Donu, from where she intended to go on to Beslan for her newspaper, "Novaya Gazeta." It is suspected that Politkovskaya, who is currently hospitalized in Rostov in serious, but stable condition, was poisoned during the flight.
Babitsky, an award-winning correspondent for RFE/RL's Russian Service, was abducted in January 2000 by Russian officials after complaining about his reporting on the war in Chechnya--reporting that was praised internationally as balanced and objective. Those officials then claimed to have exchanged Babitsky for several Russian prisoners of war -- an exchange that Babitsky said never took place. Russian officials released Babitsky after 40 days in detention, after planting false documents on him. It is these documents which formed the basis of charges of violating Russian passport regulations that were brought against Babitsky. During judicial proceedings, Babitsky was released on his own recognizance but restricted to Moscow until August 2000. Babitsky now lives and works in Prague.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, international communications service to Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia, funded by the U.S. Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
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