If this ends badly, I would not want to be a Chechen if this ends up in a disaster. Based on previous interaction between the two nations, I would expect the Russians to offer the U.S. full support of any U.N. resolution on Iraq in exchange for a free hand (and U.S. assistance) to carry out something catastrophic in Chechnya.
This looks like a well run operation. Since it's AQ, expect a great number of dead Russian civilians. And I don't care if it's a bunch of Chechens. If it's a martyrdom operation, it's AQ.
Why AQ?
Remember Bali? Bali was designed to punish Australia for supporting the U.S.. This is designed to do the same thing. I will bet you folks dimes, dollars, to doughnuts that AQ is involved in this.
The Chechens are just the local catspaws. However, I believe they will kill civilians, which will be a very dumb thing for them to do.
Stupid Arabs. Get the Americans pissed at them, THEN piss off the Russians.
Dumb as dirt.
Prayers for those civilians involved, and success to the SPETSNAZ troopers.
Be Seeing You,
Chris