[silversky]

When Abraham Lincoln was dealing with true rebels (not terrorists who murder children), he said that sometimes it is necessary to cut off an arm to save the body.

I think Putin won't harm any peacefully Muslim. It's not his style it's not Christian. I hope, the locals everywhere organize militias, protect their schools and property, train their children from high school age and generally make everyone tougher in the war wit Radical Islam. There is a lot of plain folk in Chechnya, who even Muslim, like the Russians and the security they provide. They hate the Wahhabi tallibans who did, well, what tallibans do. The enemy is Wahhbism, Radical Islam. Christians and moderate Muslims together should fight the Wahhabists. In Russia it's happening now.

[Pitiricus]

Well, it may not be Christian but it is the Russian way...

I hope Putin will bomb Chechnya to smithereens!

[We Happy Few]

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.

[Chemist_Geek]

Christians and moderate Muslims together should fight the Wahhabists. In Russia it's happening now.

Ooh, better not say that on FR. Accoring to the consensus here, all Muslims are inherely raving evil monsters.