March 25, 2005

Akayev Denies Resignation, Russia Supports Kyrgyzstan's New Government

Russia announced today it's support of Kyrgyzstan's new government. Meanwhile, the ousted President of the Central Asian republic denies reports that he has resigned calling his ouster a 'coup' and saying he will return to Kyrgistan.

Some may take the Russian endorsement as a bad sign. The new orthodoxy of many on the right is a suspicion that Russia is fast becoming an autocratic state with interests at odds with the U.S.

My view is that the Russian situation is far more complex, especially when it comes to the former Soviet states of Central Asia. Many of these states have become bastions of radical Islamists. In this regard, Russia's interests in the region mesh nicely with our own.

Willism has the background on Kyrgyztan here and why it matters to the U.S.

Parenthetically the Bishkek Cafe, just off of Moscow's Pushkin sqare, has some pretty decent grub. You'll have to dodge the hookers that hang out in front of the bus stop at night, but it's worth it for the money. The food that is, not the hookers. Pervs. more...

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March 17, 2005

Former Russian PM Escapes Assassination Attempt (UPDATED)

Let me disagree with the Reliapundit on this one, although he's right to think the former top KGB man is a suspect. But Putin is only one suspect in this case, and it is doubtful that he was behind this.

I spent a year studying in Moscow and, trust me on this one, Anatoly Chubais has plenty of enemies. Chubais was the Prime Minister of Russia, closely allied to Boris Yeltsin, who oversaw the privatization of state owned industry. As a result, a few oligarchs grew wealthy while millions lost everything. Enemies a plenty.

Chubais is now head of a state run energy company and thus in close contact with many criminal elements. This is not beyond the mafia's doing. The mafia walked into a hotel run by a friend of mine one day and unloaded several hundred rounds into his Russian business partner simply because the hotel refused to lease space for a disco. They were never caught.

As a member of government, he could also have been targetted by Chechen terrorists. Chubais was Prime Minister when Chechnya declared independence and Russia responded with a massive invasion. Whenever something that might be construed as terrorism happens in Russia, it's wise to keep the Chechen mujahadin as part of the usual suspects. UPDATE: Scroll past article for possible motives for Chechen rebels to assassinate Chubais.Reuters:

Anatoly Chubais, head of Russia's state power monopoly, has survived an assassination attempt by assailants who detonated a roadside bomb and sprayed his convoy with a hail of automatic gunfire.

The 49-year-old Chubais, one of Russia's best-known figures, came to prominence as the architect of post-Soviet economic reforms under which two dozen "oligarchs" acquired vast wealth while ordinary people suffered a huge slump in living standards.

He is now chief executive of Unified Energy System, and the prime mover behind reforms to introduce competition to the power sector of the world's largest country.

Chubais told a hastily arranged press briefing that he had been aware of a plan to kill him, but would not say who he suspected of carrying out the attack.

"I have an idea of who could have taken out a contract on me," a shaken but defiant Chubais said from the safety of UES headquarters in Moscow after the attempt. "We had reason to believe something like this might happen."

Chubais was travelling to work from his country home along a narrow stretch of the Minsk Highway at 9:30 a.m. (6.30 a.m. British time) when a roadside bomb rocked his two-car cortege and two attackers opened fire with automatic weapons.

Chubais said his armoured BMW had been able to flee the scene despite being hit in the windscreen, hood and front tyre.

Security guards for Chubais travelling in a Mitsubishi Lancer returned fire at the hitmen, who later escaped.

Police said the bomb blast had a force equivalent to at least 500 grams of TNT. Television footage from the scene showed a large crater at the side of a two-way highway through forest.

UPDATE: Why would Chechen terrorists target Chubais?

Remember that Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov was recently killed by Russian forces. Anotoly Chubais was one of the main proponents of military strikes against Chechnya. For instance, in 1999 when leading Grigory Yavlinsky called for a pause in the bombing of Chechnya, Chubais called this former ally of the democratic movement a 'traitor'.

And how was Chubai seen by the Chechen rebels? Their propaganda wing calls Chubai a 'fascist' and claim one of his goals (linking Chubai to Putin) is 'extermination of the Chechens'.

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March 08, 2005

Chechen Terrorist Leader Killed

Aslan Maskhadov, the leader of Chechnya's rebellion, has been killed by Russian forces.

Muskhadov had a $10 million dollar bounty on his head and was considered the most wanted man in Russia. Maskhadov had led the Chechen rebellion in the early 1990s until a cease-fire was negotiated with then President Boris Yeltsin.

Maskhadov was a bitter rival to the al Qaeda linked Shamil Basayev. Basayev has been linked to the Beslan massacres and has promised more Beslan like attacks in the future. Maskhadov ran against Basayev in 1997 for the Chechen Presidency and won.

Maskhadov was later driven out of office by the Russians when he declared Chechnya an independent state.

The press reports that Maskhadov was simply a leader of a nationalist movement in Chechnya are mistaken. Maskhadov is accused of planning the hostage crisis at the Nord-Ost theater in Moscow. 129 hostages later died, mostly as the result of a botched rescue operation.

Further, the MSM likes to portray Maskhadov as a moderate, contrasting him to the al Qaeda linked Basayev, but Maskhadov's nationalism was tied closely to his Muslim identity. His army is composed of jihadis drawn from around the world to repel the infidel invaders (Russia). Clearly, Maskhadov was a jihadi who saw his mission to end the 400 year old Russian control of Chechnya as a religious imperetive.

Images: (top) Reuters photo of the dead Maskhadov. (bottom) Maskhadov pauses to say prayers with his army of jihadis. (below) Russian television station NTV airs video of Maskhadov dead on the street.

more...

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February 21, 2005

Al Qaeda Linked Terrorists Killed in Russia

Despite the many differences we have with Russia over Iran, the fact remains that they are a key ally in the War on Terror. The reason Russia supports the Iranian nuclear program is it is because it is in their national interest to do so--they are the ones that sold Iran their reactors. The Russians might be induced to support our policy of Iranian containment if we were more vocal in our support of Russia's fight against the jihadis in Chechnya. Our criticism of the harsh tactics used by Russia in that fight is a major source of tensin between the two countries.

MosNews:

An al Qaeda member known as Abu Dzeit has been killed in the Russian internal republic of Ingushetia, Russian authorities said Monday.

“A joint operation with the Interior Ministry was conducted in a private house in a village in Ingushetia on February 16,” spokesman for the Federal Security Service Sergei Ignatchenko told reporters on Monday.

“The operation first resulted in the death of two of his accomplices. Abu Dzeit hid in a special bunker built under the house. When the entrance was discovered, he blew himself up,” Ignatchenko said.

He said investigators identified the body as Abu DzeitÂ’s.

A source in the FSB, RussiaÂ’s domestic security service, told RIA-Novosti that Abu Dzeit, eliminated in Ingushetia, was the leader of the so-called Ingush Jamaat and an emissary of the international terror network al Qaeda. He was also known as little Omar, and Abu Omar of Kuwait.

Abu Dzeit reported directly to Abu Havs, a purported coordinator of all terrorist activities on Russian territory, a source said. Abu Dzeit had received special training in al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan. Later he was appointed al QaedaÂ’s envoy to Ingushetia.

He was in charge of distributing cash funds provided by al Qaeda to radical Islamists in the Northern Caucasus.

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February 03, 2005

Chechen Terrorist Vows More School Massacres on Video

In a video interview, Shamil Basayev claims that the Beslan massacre was a mistake. No, not like you think. He was hoping his terrorist followers would be able to take two schools full of children hostage. Oh, and yes, he probably will be forced to massacre more school children in the future. But it's not his fault. It's the Russians fault.

Russia, for their part, has asked the British TV station Channel 4 to refrain from broadcasting the video.

In related news, rumors have begun circulating that Basayev is dead. No tears shed here if true. A web-site linked to the Chechen terrorists has also called for a cease-fire, bolstering claims of the terrorist chief's death.

And what does the MSM call the man?

Australia's ABC News calls the man a Chechen warlord. The Canadian Globe and Mail calls him a Chechen leader.

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Georgian PM Found Dead of Gas Poisoning

The reformist Prime Minister of Georgia, Zurab Zhvania, has been found dead. Media sources indicate that the 44 year old's death was likely due to a gas leak at a friend's home. Russia has denied any involvement in the Prime Minister's death. more...

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January 13, 2005

Georgian Breakaway Republic of Abkhazia Elects President

Like South Ossetia, Abkhazia wishes to leave Georgia and become part of the Russian Federation. The election changes none of this. While war between Russian and Georgia is not imminent, it still remains a real possibility. Xinhua:

Opposition leader Sergei Bagapsh won a landslide victory in Wednesday's presidential election in Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia, the republic's Central Electoral Commission (CEC) announced Thursday.

CEC chief Batal Tabagua said Bagapsh won 91.1 percent of the vote, demolishing his only rival, the People's Party leader Yakub Lakoba, who took just 4.5 percent, the Itar-Tass news agency reported....

Abkhazia has enjoyed de facto independence from Georgia since fighting a separatist war in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The region has been seeking to integrate with Russia against the wishes of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili who has vowed to regain control over the republic and another rebel region, South Ossetia.

Bagapsh said Thursday that any future dialogue between Abkhaziaand Georgia must be held under the premise that both sides are equal and independent states.

He regarded with great optimism relations with Russia and advocated further integration with Moscow, stressing that Abkhaziawill have no future without financial and legal assistance from Russia.

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December 31, 2004

Beslan Donates To Tsunami Relief

The Courier-Mail reports that the North Ossetian town of Beslan in Russia, still mourning 344 murders - half of them children - by terrorists, has contributed $37,500 to the tsunami relief effort.

"Our council decided to transfer a million rubles to help those suffering from the disaster in Asia," said Maerbek Tuayev, who is in charge of municipal council efforts to raise funds for families of the victims of the September hostage taking.

"The residents of Beslan have not forgotten how the whole world mobilised for them. We will always mobilise for people suffering from disasters or terrorism around the world."

Memories of the massacre in Beslan are ugly. The residents' resilience and generosity warm the heart.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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December 13, 2004

Pro-American President Elected in Romania

Left out of all the articles on the winner of the Romanian Presidential election, Traian Basescu, is the fact that he is supportive of the US Iraq policy. Even more telling is that both of the candidates in the election support our efforts in Iraq. New Europe pulls through again! Telegraph:

The pro-western mayor of Bucharest caused a serious upset in the Romanian presidential election yesterday, defeating the country's former communist prime minister.

Known as "The European", reform-minded Traian Basescu surged past Adrian Nastase as the votes from Sunday's poll were counted.

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December 09, 2004

Ukrainian Crips Poison Blood

Yushenko was poisoned? A drive-by with a Kalish would be more OG.

bloods.gif

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November 30, 2004

I didn't even know Wierd Al was Ukranian...

....let alone Prime Minister.

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November 23, 2004

Terrorist Attack Averted in Russia

A large scale attack terrorist attack has been averted in the Russian province of Ingushetia. Ingushetia neighbors Chechnya and is largely Muslim. Just yesterday Russian forces arrested a top al-Qaeda linked terrorist. Russia is fast becoming one of our closest allies in the GWOT. Why? Because it is in their interest to do so. They stand at the front line between the West and Islamic civilization. Thanks to Jeff Quinton for e-mailing me this Russian Info article:

A large-scale terrorist attack was averted in Ingushetia, a republic neighboring Chechnya. The attack was ordered by Chechen separatist leaders Shamil Basayev and Aslan Maskhadov, spokesman for the North Caucasus antiterrorism headquarters Ilya Shabalkin said Tuesday.

"Operatives from the republic's FSB and Interior Ministry obtained information that terrorists under Maskhadov and Basayev's command were preparing a new large terrorist attack in Ingushetia," Mr. Shabalkin said.

He said that according to the plan, during a provocation, bandits wearing Russian solider uniforms would attack several public buildings and apartment houses with 120mm mortar and several large-caliber machine guns.

"The republic's law enforcement agencies conducted a series of search operations," he said, "and found a cache of weapons to be used in the terrorist attack in a forest in the Malgobek district."

A 120mm mortar, 74 120mm mortar shells, 35 antitank mines, four barrels for a 14.5mm machine gun modified for single round firing, and more than 8,000 14.5mm cartridges were removed from the cache.

An operations and investigation group is currently searching for the militants who were preparing the attack, he said.

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November 22, 2004

Russia Arrests Leader of al-Qaeda Linked Group

Russia's 9/11 was the Beslan Massacre. You may recall that Russian President Vladimir Putin was a strong critic of the Bush administration during the build up to the Iraq war. After Beslan, those criticisms stopped. America's new foreign policy must take this into account. Mosnews via Internat Haganah:

Russian law enforcement officials have detained the leader of a terrorist cell from the internatial Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, which intelligence has linked to Al Qaeda.

Alisher Usmanov, who headed a cell in central RussiaÂ’s Tatarstan, was arrested Wednesday, carrying explosives and Al Qaeda training manuals and flyers, the Lenta.ru news site reported, citing police sources in the republic.

The explosives indicate that the man, who was already suspected of organizing a number of terrorist attacks, including a deadly blast in Uzbekistan last March, was planning yet another attack, Interior Ministry officials told the Russian Information Agency Novosti.

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November 18, 2004

Two Arrests Made in Russia over Beslan Massacre

More good news in the GWOT. From what I hear, federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison takes on a whole other level of meaning for terrorists in Russia. As a side note, the evidence against Marina Korigova seems pretty weak. It wouldn' surprise me in the least if she was let go in the future. It also wouldn't surprise me if she was never let go, guilty or not. That's how they play in Russia. MOSNEWS:

Russian security forces have arrested two young people suspected of having assisted the terrorists involved in the Beslan hostage taking in September this year, Russian media reported on Thursday.

One of the alleged accomplices Marina Korigova, 16, was detained in the town of Nalchik in RussiaÂ’s North Caucasian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. Investigators claim the construction college student had talked 16 times with Musa Tsechoyev, one of the rebels who took part in the hostage-taking in Beslan. TsechoyevÂ’s body was found among the rebels killed during the storming and later identified....

Another alleged accomplice of Beslan hostage-takers, Akhmed Merzhoyev, 28, was detained in the village of Sapapshi, according to a report by the Vremya Novostei newspaper. Merzhoyev “initially was among the terrorists who masterminded the operation”, the paper reports citing sources in law enforcement agencies. In particular, Merzhoyev is believed to have provided a rebel base in the Magolbek district with provisions.

Furthermore, investigators claim that Merzhoyev had been aware of the terroristsÂ’ plans and intended to take part in the seizure himself. He changed his mind at the last minute.

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November 09, 2004

Hostage Standoff in South Ossetia Over

Long-time readers know that I have been following the low-level war in South Ossetia between the proxy armies of Georgia and Russia. The potential for this to turn into a 'hot war' between the two nations is real. I missed this news over the weekend, but apparently 40 hostages were taken by villagers on both sides of the conflict. While the hostages have been freed, it should be noted that the standoff started during a cease-fire agreement between the two sides. Despite numerous such agreements, the fighting always seems to start again. Both sides have agreed to withdraw troops from the region by Nov. 20th, but it seems unlikely that the agreement will hold. Like all such conflicts, peace will only be achieved when one side or the other realizes that it cannot obtain it's goals. Cease-fires, withdrawals, and negotiations do not solve the underlying causes of the problems. more...

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Car Bomb Kills One in Russia

Deepikaglobal:

Car explodes in Moscow, one killed person and injuring another, Russian news agencies reported.

It was not immediately clear what caused the blast. A police spokesman declined to comment on the incident and local prosecutors were not immediately available.

Police across Russia are braced for attacks by Chechen separatists who have claimed responsibility for numerous acts of violence in recent years, including suicide bombings in Moscow and the seizure of a school in southern Russia in September, where more than 330 hostages died.

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November 04, 2004

Russian Leaders Call for Taking Terrorists' Families Hostage

Last week Pravda reported that Russia's Prosecutor General, Vladimir Ustinov, suggested that a part of any future Russian special forces anti-terrorism contingency plan may be to take hostage-takers' families hostage. The comments were made during a session of Russia's lower parliamentary house, the Duma, earlier this week.

The St. Petersburg Times translates his suggestion this way: "Detaining relatives and showing terrorists what may happen to their relatives could help save people's lives, so let's not close our eyes or put a diplomatic face on it. When you live by the sword, you die by the sword."

Although his speech was met by applause, the suggestion seemed to have been met negatively in the Russian press. However, one important figure that has endorsed the plan is the Russian backed President of Chechnya, Alu Alkhanov. One source translates his endorsement: "We should do everything allowed by law, I think." He added that if the Duma were to pass such a law, then he would support it.

Chechnya's representative to the Russian Duma also chimed in: "Every terrorist has relatives, and they should bare responsibility for the criminal acts of their family members."

The reaction from the world community seems to be to unanimously condemn Ustinov's statements. Reuters, which has a special news service devoted to human rights abuses, reports that UN human rights experts have expressed concern:

Leila Zerrougui, chair of the United Nations working group on arbitrary detention, and Stephen Toope, head of the U.N. working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances, said this would "run counter to the principles of international law".

"Detaining innocent people as hostages of the state in order to combat abductions and terrorism is contrary to the most elemental international human rights principles and norms," the independent experts said in a joint statement.

No word from UN Human Rights Commission members Syria (a prominent state sponsor of terrorism), or from Libya (the country that trained terrorists for the past 20 years).

I do not endorse such tactics, but it seems odd that the UN would condemn what is really just an idea (probably with no chance of actually becoming policy) with such force and outrage, while they turn a blind eye and give official sanction to terrorists who actually engage in the practice of hostage taking and murder. I'm looking at you soon-to-be corpse Yasser Arafat and friends.

Linked at the BTJ, because I think it's a cool story and word should get out.

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October 18, 2004

Putin says what everyone is thinking

Via the Commissar and Kevin this novestiy Putin: International terrorists have set as their goal inflicting the maximum damage to Bush, to prevent his election to a second term. If they succeed in doing that, they will celebrate a victory over America and over the entire anti-terror coalition

Let me just gloat for a minute and remind y'all that I've been saying that Putin was our ally for awhile. I wish some out there would stop there bitching and realize that, yes Putin is a flawed autocrat with anti-democratic tendencies, but so the freak what?!?! He's our ally. Allies are built on mutual interests. Who cares if Putin appoints governors or if Yukos has to sell off a few assets? Hell, if appointing governors was akin to fascism then half the unitary states on earth would qualify. After Beslan, Putin woke up and realized what a tragic mistake he had made in Iraq. He believed, wrongly, that by appeasing Muslims by opposing the Iraq war he would by some sympathy. How wrong was that? It is only a matter of time before Islamic terrorists massacre French school children. When that time comes, France will be lucky that Americans have such a short memory span and we are willing to forgive so quickly.

Related posts:
Media should be allies in war on terror says Putin
Russia's New Foreign Policy: Preemptive Attacks

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October 06, 2004

Beslan Terrorist's Mother Banished from Village

Mosnews:

A peopleÂ’s gathering in the village of Elkhotovo in the Russian internal republic of North Ossetia, has ruled that Aleksandra Samoshkina, the mother of Vladimir Khodov, must leave the village where she lives as well as the republic, the Itar-Tass news agency reports.
more...

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October 05, 2004

Terrorists on the Run

Zarqawi becoming unpopular, even among jihadis.

Zarqawi wants to release Bigley, but fears Coalition pinpointing him during transport.

Israel kills Islamic Jihad leader. Hooray!!

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