I'll see your argument half-way.
Whenever an extrodinary claim of a "government conspiracy" arises, I get suspicious. Without serious evidence, it looks kooky and Art-Bellish.(Although Art Bell is actually entertaining!)
But I'd buy the Putin power grab line easily. That can be demonstrated. Putin's actions over the last few years give me pause. He likes to punish enemies, again, an old Russian tradition....hehe. In another age he would have made a great party secretary.....
That said, terrorist often play into the hands of their enemies. Just ask Mr. Arafat...hehe.
As for banning people, I'm generally against it.
If people wanna be pro-Chechen, as long as they are sensible and can make a legit argument, why not?
I could even listen to an Al-Quaedaish poster under certain conditions....if they acknowledged that terrorist act were not justified, and wrong, and decided to fight in the realm of ideas, isn't that what it's about?
Granted, it gets hard to defend the indefensible, but as long as no knives are pulled, it's a healthy debate.
just my 2 cents
To: exodusThere is nothing "extraordinary" about a government conspiracy, Will_Zurmacht.
"... Whenever an extraordinary claim of a "government conspiracy" arises, I get suspicious. Without serious evidence, it looks kooky and Art-Bellish ..."
# 88 by Will_Zurmacht
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Politics is conspiracy, and governments are composed of politicians.
Even "serious evidence" of a crime committed by a government is ignored by that government's citizens; no one wants to believe that their leaders are evil.