Posted on 09/06/2004 4:45:27 AM PDT by kattracks
RUSSIAN security sources yesterday claimed al-Qaeda masterminded the Beslan bloodbath, using 'puppet' Chechen rebels.They pointed the finger of blame at shadowy al-Qaeda financial chief Abu Omar as-Seyf and Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev.
Sergei Markov, an analyst close to the Kremlin, said: 'This is the beginning of a new political-military force joining forces against Russia.
'It is unclear exactly what the force is, but people like Basayev are merely its puppets.'
As-Seyf, an Islamic extremist, is a top-ranking al-Qaeda fanatic who intelligence sources believe is Osama bin Laden's man in Chechnya. He is in charge of channelling millions of pounds from the Arab world to rebels in the republic.
He is also thought to be a member of al-Qaeda's high council,the Shura.
Russia's Federal Security Service suspect him of being behind the recent downing of two passenger planes by Chechen separatists.
Warlord Basayev was responsible for the Moscow theatre siege in 2002, when 42 of his terrorists took 800 hostages - 129 of whom died. From his woodland hideout, he has sent out waves of suicide bombers.
Russian officials claimed several of the hostage-takers at Beslan were from Arab countries, but have yet to back that up with evidence.
Let see. The Muslims supported the Nazis starting in their early days. After World War II ended, welcomed them with open arms. The Muslims are the heirs to Nazism and Third Reich.
The State Department urged both sides to show restraint.
When are they going to send a battalion of SPETSNAZ to Afghanistan?
All I can say to those Ally boys is: watch out, the Russians are on your tail. And Putin doesn't get mad, he gets even.
Al Qaeda would cheerfully sacrifice Chechnya and the Muslims there.
That is, more deaths for the Murder Cult of Dar al Islam to celebrate.
If we could just manage, in the minds of the world, to redefine Islam as an ideology like communism or nazism.
Calling it a religion protects it. What we need, as well as military power, is a psyops/PR/propoganda war on the whole idea of Islam as some faintly cute and quaint religion.
Turn them into the Klan. The Nazis. Anything but a faith.
Yes, among those many links are photos of the Grand Mufti with Nazi hosts, and Arab Nazi brigades during WWII. It is not a pretty sight, especially in light of recent events.
Most reports I've seen in the Russian media indicate that apprx. 10 of the 32 terrorists were from other Islamic countries: Jordan, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi, and a not-yet-determined African country (the terrorsit was black), in addition to expected Chechens and Ingush. There is little doubt that AQ was involved at some level.
Putin's problem is that one-fifth of Russia's population is Muslim, though the majority are apparently Sufis who ignore the jihad and other Koranic ideals. In the accounts of the burials in Beslan yesterday, Ossetian Muslim victims were being laid to rest alongside Orthodox Christians in the same cemetery.
Burning all the mosques and trying to eradicate 20 percent of the population would be a bad idea, as the chief effect would be to alienate the moderate Sufis (who are regarded as heretics by the Wahabis and others), whose inclination would be to join us in fighting OBL, AQ, and the others like them.
I have seen those photos many times. Very disturbing and prophetic even. Sadly, many people don't know about it. It should be known to everyone.
chechnya---whoops
I appreciate your reasoned comments. My only points are A) there's no proof whatsoever offered by the government insider making the comment. The article is devoid of facts. I guess I remember too much of the Cold War, and what liars Russian commies were for the sake of the Party. I don't think that's changed. B) His comments may be right (I wouldn't be surprised if AlQaeda were involved) or they may be wrong. Russia made its own Hell because of its actions. Chechens don't need help hating Russia. It's just very difficult to conceive of the idea that human beings could murder innocent children. I hope there's a hell, and that all terrorists go there.
That school was big. The hostages were gathered in the gymnasium...in one room. Just because the hostages didn't see anybody who looked like an Arab doesn't mean there weren't any in the building. I just don't think all the details are out yet.
"Chechens don't need help hating Russia"
Truer words were never said.....unfortunately, because of this hate, no matter whether historically justified or not, they and their culture are now doomed.
I remember a quote I read somewhere that was attributed to a Soviet General - when asked what he needed to conquer a particularly thorny objective he replied "Just give me one Chechen".
I read your post. You criticized the Russian actions and expressed doubt Al Quaeda was involved. I was commenting on those ideas.
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