"He promised wide-ranging reforms to toughen security forces and purge corruption." That worries me for the Russian people. Putin could use this as a way of going back to the old ways.
On the other hand I wish him luck on taking out terrorists. Perhaps he could squeeze Iran. Not sure what else he can do, the Russian Army has already proven they can't win in Chechnya.
The Russian Army has been resistant to changing from a Cold War configuration to confronting the new threats of the 21st Century. It needs to shed its manpower and become a professional, mobile all-volunteer force. Perhaps the horror of Beslan will begin to bring about the necessary changes.
"On the other hand I wish him luck on taking out terrorists. Perhaps he could squeeze Iran. Not sure what else he can do, the Russian Army has already proven they can't win in Chechnya."
The Russian army cannot win anywhere.
"That worries me for the Russian people. Putin could use this as a way of going back to the old ways."
That's exactly what I thought after reading the following;
"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."