Russian airport comes under terrorist attack

[Mr Khan]

superchunk said:

ProdigyBam said:

superchunk said:

While I don't agree with this bombing in any way... I have to say I wish Russia would just leave Chechnya. Their ridiculous hold on this province is just stupid. World powers can't keep forcing massive groups of people to remain in their country if they choose not to be. Especially, when they are not the same people.

Chechnya should be its own state, like Palestine, like Tibet, like the recent Sudan split, etc.

95% of chechnyas people do now want a independent country (thus, want to stay in russia)

i only have a german source for the poll though

you cant reflect the thoughts of the extremists onto the whole nation

Considering that the Chechnyan rebels are a popularist group, I'd wager that they have a very large support from the populace.

Not anymore, though public opinion is impossible to guage at this point, but the struggle was really co-opted by the radicals long ago. Now they are still able to recruit, but what's been going on with the new Governor of the territory is that he's been consolidating power pretty well, forcing the extremists to the margins, which is forcing them to use more extreme tactics as they are pushed out. The people probably just want the killing to end at this point, and the fastest route to that is to let the Governor do what needs to be done

Plus Chechnya didn't fare too well when the Russians left the first time. Between 96 and 99 was a period of total chaos for the territory, even if it had de facto independence