[Henk]

I keep wondering why a thug like Putin is putting up with this carnage. Why doesn't he go in there and clean house?

It occurs to me that he is likely using the situation to facilitate his consolidation of power. He can leverage the Russian's fear to garner more power in the name of "security".

[RussianConservative]

If he wanted that, then US provide more then enough...bomb Serbs, expend NATO, move troops to border of Russia. In Chechnya there is no marshal law and Chechins can travel most Russia...there your oppressed Islamics. But if Putin deemed thug, then Bush is magolomanic world butcher....using same standard.