His response to the loss of the Kursk ought to have given us a clue. He stayed on vacation, was helpless to do or say the right thing at the time.
There have been apartment house bombings and other horrific acts of terror that have gone unpunished.
The man seems clueless and powerless.
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.