Chechen Warlord Warns NATO of Terror Attacks on Russia

Reuters ^ | Sat Nov 23, 1:00 PM ET | Richard Balmforth

[Destro]

Chechen Warlord Warns of Attacks on Russia

Sat Nov 23, 1:00 PM ET

By Richard Balmforth

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Chechen warlord who says he was behind last month's mass hostage-taking in Moscow warned on Saturday his group would launch new strikes in Russia if it did not pull its troops out of Chechnya (news - web sites).

Chechen rebel commander Shamil Basayev, Russia's public enemy number one, told NATO (news - web sites) leaders in an open letter that they should put pressure on Moscow to pull out of the Muslim North Caucasus territory and start peace negotiations.

"Chechen Mujahideen have a full right and possibilities to carry out strikes on the territory of the aggressor country, adequate to what the Russian military clique has been conducting and is still continuing to conduct on the territory of Chechnya," the English text of the letter said.

"We are also warning that all military, industrial and strategic facilities on the territory of Russia are legitimate military targets for us, whomever they may belong to," the statement, issued by the rebel Kavkaz Center, said.

"We also warn that the new generation is coming to take our place, the generation of orphans, whose fathers and mothers were killed on the orders by the Kremlin regime," it said.

The statement was signed by the Command of the Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion "Riyadus Salihin," the group that Basayev heads and whose units launched the attack on a theater in the south-east of Moscow late in October.

TRAUMATIC SIEGE

A total of 128 hostages and all 41 rebels were killed when Russian special forces stormed the theater after three days, ending a siege that traumatized Russia and shook President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites) who came to power vowing to crush the rebels.

Almost all the dead hostages were killed by a strong narcotic gas used by the security forces to knock out the rebels.

The bearded Basayev, a terror figure in Russia since his group took several hundred people hostage in a Budyennovsk hospital in southern Russia in 1995, claimed responsibility for the theater operation within days of it ending.

The Kremlin says Basayev's claim was partly intended to divert blame for the attack from fugitive rebel president Aslan Maskhadov with whom it refuses to hold peace talks.

Russian forces have been battling Chechen separatist rebels in the rebellious southern province on and off since 1994.

Putin has been only partially successful in winning western support for his contention that Russia's fight against Chechen separatism is on a par with the U.S.-led war against the Al Qaedr network behind the September 11, 2001, airliner attacks in the United States.

The guerrilla statement was heavy with reproach for NATO leaders and the West whom it accused of hypocritically defending the "barbaric aggression" of Russian forces in Chechnya.

It called on the leaders of NATO and other international bodies to exert pressure on Putin to cease military operations, pull Moscow's forces back to beyond 100 km (62 miles) of the Chechnya border and start peace negotiations with Maskhadov.

[Destro]

Why would the Chechen think NATO would be helpful to the Mujahideen? Hmmm?

[Centurion2000]

Better idea, nuke Grozny and all of the mountain areas in Chechnya ... then wait for someone to speak up about peace negotiations; repeat as necessary.

[Incorrigible]

One man, on his way to Moscow, with a suitcase...

:-)

[blam]

Just remember, they intended to kill the 700+ people in the Russian theatre. They are the same dogs that we fight!!

[Destro]

Maybe he is giving a heads up to old allies? Russia labels British mine clearers as spies for Chechens

[tessalu]

When is this world going to get a belly full of Islam?
It seems like time is about up.

[exnavy]

It is way past time to see that the muslims of this world will convert us, or kill us.

[Catspaw]

Why would Basayev think NATO should pressure Putin? It's almost a requirement for al Qaeda members to do a tour in Chechnya. NATO helps him, they're helping al Qaeda.

[Larry381]

I remember reading Solzhenitsyn's The Gulag Archipelago years ago where he relates the extreme hatred of Russia and fierce independence of Chechens in Stalin's gulags. They were fanatic ememies of Stalin and Communism and many of them were banished to Siberian labor camps were they died or were murdered by the hundreds of thousands by Stalin's NKVD.
When the German's invaded the Soviet Union and their troops reached Chechen territory one of the first things they did was allow open religious freedom in the region which resulted in many Chechen men enlisting under the Nazi banner so they could even the score with their Russian tormentors. Germany captured many millions of prisioners during their campaign in Russia and always found a stream of ready recruits in the camps among the Chechens and the Ukraininians. What is taking place in Chechnya today is no doubt a tragedy of major proportons but the Chechens lost much international support and good will when they allied their cause with radical Islam-but for this many of us would no doubt be avid supporters of their cause.

[jimtorr]

It is not the Chechens alignment with radical Islam that I abhor, but their terrorist strategy. They have a history in the past ten years of killing large numbers of people in apartment buildings, hospitals and theaters. It is because of this that I encourage the Russians to crush them.

[lavaroise]

Why would the Chechen think NATO would be helpful to the Mujahideen? Hmmm?

They know NATO is a political group. So they are exploiting it just as the KLA did.

[Sparta]

Where's Fusion? Could someone please summon him? I need something to laugh at this morning.

[Sparta]

If the Marines at Gitmo will let you post, please come to the computer.


Share your brillant insight with all of us here.(sarcasm)

[Grampa Dave]

Does Putin have enough gas to take care of Grozny and all of the mountain areas in Chechnya?

Sounds like a plan. Use it and let the Islamofascist/kazis die. Then let the left wing mediots around the world scream. Maybe he could coordinate his attack when we start to remove the world's biggest Islamofascist clymer, Uncle Sadda. Then two cancers can be removed at the same time.

[Smedley]

It is because of this that I encourage the Russians to crush them

The Chechens are a nasty lot, but the Russians have a long history of doing what needs to be done to win. I don't envy either side.

[Angelus Errare]

Waiting for Mr. Basayev's press secretary, the honorable Fusion (Udugov, perchance?) for comment on this latest threat. While he's at it maybe he can tell us where bin Laden is.

[spetznaz]

Where's Fusion? Could someone please summon him? I need something to laugh at this morning.

Hehe, come think of it i also need a laugh tonight! Who knows, Fusion may 'honor' us with one of his famous quips ....eg the whole 'freedom rumbles on' or whatever!

That dude is weird! However even FR needs its local jesters for comic relief!

[Sparta]

Some how I get the feeling the Marines won't let him post today from Gitmo. However, there's RCW2001 for our amusement.

BTW: I think it's The Armies of Freedom are on the move and Europe trembles.(Fusion's call sign)