Recently, the Internet site Kavkaz—the organ of the Chechens who have engaged in almost 15 years of war with Russia—published a lengthy discussion between two leading members of the movement: Akhmed Zakaev and Movladi Udugov. They each assessed the future of the movement and its nature. Interestingly enough, the Russian mass media, which usually ignore Chechen publications, immediately responded, sending the message that they are ready to compromise even with those whom they so recently had regarded as implacable terrorists. Zakaev, who lives in London with his family and who played the role of vice prime minister of the virtual...