What seems liek an over defense of Putin (and it is not) is an attempt to right misconceptions and wrongs.
We should never "trust" a nation that can wipe us out like Russia can - But never trust in bugaboos about Russia hitched to the old Cold War past either.
Russia is helping Iran with nukes? Pakistan - our ally has nukes - nuclear power plant in Pakistan first built be GE.
Russia helps some unsavory Socialist Arab types? We help Wahhabist Arab nations.
Neither side is clean. The failure of both sides is that neother could overcome the Cold War mentalities to unite in the war on terror. Both are guilty by mo reconing. America sure ignored al-Qaeda when al-Qaeda was fighting Russian interests pre 9/11....
They DO NOT sympathize with the Chechens. They want to USE and ABUSE them as mere tools to damage Russia.
Chechen clans are too small, too barbaric and are located in too remote land to became a modern viable nation. At "best" they can become a base for international terrorism, crime and Muslim extremism to wreck Russian state or to inflame tribal wars in Caucasus. At worst they will be a cannon fodder for armchair warriors in the West.
Chechens should be left alone - ie allowed to slowly civilize, to learn to cooexist with their neighbors and to become productive citizens of Russia. Encouraging them to fight is as wicked as to encourage American Indians of today to stage an armed revolt against American government.