I read part of an after action report from Beslan. Some of those soldiers literally stood in doorways to block gunfire with their bodies so a few more children could escape. Heroism knows no borders.
I was born/raised in MI, left about the time you were born. Still a Tigers Fan!!!
According to ABC, it was Russian journalist Andrey Babitsky, who interviewed Shamil Basayev at the end of July in Chechnya. Babitsky was heading to Chechnya to have an interview with another Chechen terrorist, Doku Umarov. It took the journalist two weeks to wait for the terrorist to appear, but Babitsky was eventually introduced to Shamil Basayev. The reporter spent two days with Basayev. However, it is impossible to determine the date, when the interview was made: Basayev said nothing about post-Beslan events in it.
The Russian embassy in the USA protested against the airing of the interview before it was broadcast. ABC said that “Nightline” offered the Russian government a possibility to participate in this or future television programs. The offer was rejected. ABC acknowledged that the interview with Shamil Basayev would produce one of the largest scandals during the 25 years of Nightline's history.
Not that is awesome and awe-inspiring.
That's absolutely exceptional. If I'd been told (as a Marine in the Eighties) that I'd be today raising a glass in heartfelt tribute to Russian soldiers, I'd never have believed it.
God bless them.