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Well, I would have been out of there years ago for one. But that's not what you're asking.

Pull troops out and use them to contain terrorists within Chechnya's borders, set up friendly government, arm them, and have them self-police (sound familiar?) then send in Special Forces to look for specific people to arrest if possible, kill if necessary.

No rounding up relatives, or razing villages.

The right way is never the easy way.

Set up a friendly goverment, and then prop it up by force of arms. That sounds like a template for the current Russian policy. I really don't see any operative difference. And what if given Russian capabilities, it can't prop up a friendly government absent collateral damage? Should the US offer up its high tech toys to limit the collateral damage? That of course would be a huge mistake for the US to do so.

Luis, this is one matter, where all the options suck. The mensch needs to just decide which option sucks least, and be honest about it, and defend it with intelligence and consistency. What is the right option. given all that? Well, I don't know. Awareness of ignorance is the first step to knowledge.