Posted on 09/03/2004 2:45:31 AM PDT by kattracks
BESLAN, Russia - A group of about 30 women and children broke out of a school in southern Russia where militants were holding hundreds of people captive Friday, a news agency reported, after two loud explosions were heard and Russian commandos opened fire near the building.The Interfax news agency said that the school's roof had collapsed and militants were shelling and firing from the building. Interfax said the hostages who broke out of the school included women and children. It was impossible to immediately verify the reports.
Two helicopters hovered overhead. An ambulance rushed from the scene and CNN reported that at least two people were wounded. On Thursday, the militants inside the school had released some 26 of the hundreds of hostages held inside the building since Wednesday.
Russians repeatedly said they did not mount a rescue attempt. That they reacted to the situation that started unfolding.
However, Russia has been subjected to Chechnyan terror attacks for a decade. Apartment house bombings, rail line terror attacks, etc. They seemed so unprepared for a hostage situation even tho the theatre situation was so recent.
However, Russia has been subjected to Chechnyan terror attacks for a decade. Apartment house bombings, rail line terror attacks, etc. They seemed so unprepared for a hostage situation even tho the theatre situation was so recent.
One reasonable approach is to personally call President Putin and just listen. Remember, there is some history here. We haven't always supported the Russians against the Chechyens. This is a weird time to pipe up in public and say something. I agree that I would take great satisfaction about it if he did. But I think you simply have no idea how massive of a response the Russians are capable of doing all on their own. It may, in fact, be a good idea to just get out of their way.
I was not critisizing the Russians.
So this was the end-game for the terrorists. The Russians didn't provoke them.
They're going to get a ring of hell all to themselves...
Putin in essence will order all loyal Russian citizens to evacuate Chechnya. He doesn't want any of them to become vicitms or future hostages when he massively retaliates.
Putin is in a deep crisis--how many terrorist strikes can Russia endure in the span of two weeks? The issue has little, if anything, to do with the "plain folk in Chechnya" any longer. They are undoubtedly losers in this struggle. They will have to be relocated to a safer place in Russia, but that is a pretty small consideration when terrorists are taking the fight to the heart of Russia, attacking concert halls, airliners, subways, rock concerts, apartment buildings, and schools.
Yeah, that is why I am thinking that the explosion that started it all may not have been "intended" at that time. Palestinians detonate themselves at the wrong time all of the time.
People look at the bodies of those killed when Russian troops stormed a school to end a two-day siege in the town of Beslan near Chechnya, September 3, 2004. REUTERS/Eduard Kornienko
A man carries an injured child who escaped from a seized school in Beslan, North Ossetia, Friday, Sept. 3, 2004. Commandos stormed a school Friday in southern Russia where hundreds of hostages had been held for three days, sending hostage-takers and their captives fleeing in a scene of chaos amid explosions and gunfire. More than 100 children were wounded in the assault, some running from the building naked and covered in blood. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Heartbreaking. I'll probably spend a lot of today praying, both for the living and the dead, may God's angels carrying them gently to Jesus's waiting arms.
This will all happen here.
I see your point. I'm thinking more about our homegrown perception of Bush's fundamental opposition to atrocities like this. If Kerry gets out there and makes a statement, Bush can't look like he's playing "follow the leader". This is his reason for re-election, he needs to publicly condemn this.
Just my error-prone opinion. ;-)
That is another thought. Some of the hostages probably started dying because of the conditions...
I'm at the point now that if the entire ROP death cult - all of it - were blown from the face of the earth I wouldn't bat an eye.
Mine, too! I think about President Bush and his intelligent, determined, and unrelenting cabinet, and then I just hope that we the American people continue to have good leaders, and that they will choose to do the best thing for us and for the human race.
Imagine being Truman on August 6th, 1945.
I also think it's time for an unforgettable lesson. A glowing lesson.
"Remind you of anything?"
Yes, it does. Good point.
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