Russia's offensive has been given a mixed political reception

BBC News Analysis: Chechen war divides neighbours

By Eurasia Analyst Malcolm Haslett

The war in Chechnya is often seen as a war against Islam, or at least a war against Islamic extremism. It may seem surprising, then, that
Russia's campaign has received its strongest support from some of the traditionally-Muslim areas of the former Soviet Union.

Indeed the Chechen war has had the effect of bringing most of Central Asian republics much closer to Russia.

There may be some sympathy for the Chechens, as Muslims, among the populations there. But among the ruling elites, such is the genuine
fear and loathing of what's seen as Islamic fundamentalism that officials in places like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have
found it difficult to conceal their very real pleasure that Russia is, as they see it, hitting back at the religious fanaticism.

Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov, for instance - who only a few months ago was talking of quitting the Russian-led CIS Security Pact - now seems only too happy to co-operate in joint military exercises with troops from Russia and the other Central Asian republics.

The recent emergency in Kyrgyzstan, where Kyrgyz forces for weeks battled against a mainly Uzbek force of Islamists, has seriously rattled the secular authorities in all these republics.

®,

Yes you're right, you said terrorists not Chechnians. I agree with some of your comments, but disagree with a few points.

A. Its difficult to agree in people being not supportive of the rebels. I read many articles quoting Russian soldiers on the contrary.

B. Yes war can help economy in the short term, but might create hyper-inflation, and biger problems at the end.

C. World needs a democratic Russia, and war might cause it to return to its totalitarian past.

To Turk,
95% of Chechens do not want to work. You can bring them all to good old USA, and after 10 years they still will not have any legit income. All 95% still will be stealing...
Cossack
P.S. Please do not take my statement personaly. While in Germany I saw few Turks to work, but I have my opinion about Chechens.

Armenian+,

"It does not change the fact that kidnapping for ransom was industrialized in Chechnia. I don't believe it was same way in Ireland."

Yes, I agree with what you are saying. No civilised person can defend kidnapping of innocent people for ransom. I have no idea who was committing these kidnappings, so better not to dwell on it anymore.

Cossack,

I have not seen many people who wants to work. Given a free choice to work or play, I will say "play" any day. Don't get me wrong, I am a very hard-working person, but I work to live, not live to work. I believe most people are like me.

Given a decent job providing a decent income is available,its hard to imagine a person won't work, and continue to live in powerty. I would say generalisations are always dangerous. Don't you agree?

"USA fully recovered from Great Depression only when war started..."

Actually for USA GD was over in 1933. There was another one, smaller depression in 1937. It ended in 1938. USA entry into WWII had nothing to do with that.

I use to love Russia and I supported the Russian military against the Chechnians, but after seeing anti-Muslim, anti-islam crap on this forum, I have changed my opinion. You people are not only against Chechnians but also against Russians Muslims

Turk,
>>I have no idea who was committing these kidnappings
Oh well, I have a pretty good idea who was committing it. Who is asking 5 Mil USD for Russian general kidnapped in May - June 99? Armenians?

to Russian Muslim,
You stupido posted those pictures above as British. You ••••••• •••• idiot. Brit would never claim that beheading is a good fighting.
Now you are Russian Muslim. Hah. There is no such thing as Rusian Muslim, scumio. Get lost.

Turk I would like to point out that most of these fighters are not even Chechen,they are from other Islamic republics.

Russian Muslim or British...or 63.17.60.252 ....or hypocrite.

Just a question. I see this used repeatedly on the board - "Chechnian".
In what language is that? Doesn't look to be a Russian word. Looks very much to be styled like "Russian" though, but... well, in English Chechens are not Chechnians.

To Cossack, you have got to be the most ignorant •••• i ever met. Who the •••• do you think lived in Soviet Union for 70 plus years? They weren't russians? Soviets weren't Russians? And please dont argue about the fact that poles and ukrainians and all sorts lived there too, this is primarily Russian i am talking about, thanks to Stalin our country was industrialized for the Great Patriotic War, where the hell do you think we would be under the Czar? You ••••••• little servant. I dont give a rats ass what your old stinky and unwise outcast of a grandfather told you. You ••••••• make opinions based on others experience, go get some of your own you little child. And the only fact that Russia cooperated with Germany until WW2 is because we weren't backstabbed until then! And whats this bullshit about Lenin and party cheering about Russian losses? Where in the world can you provide some evidence of that ever taken place? Where the hell are you coming from with this nonsense! Which kind of Cossack are you? One that comes from Rostov? Ukraine or over the border with Chechnya? Or maybe you are Gypsey? You Cossacks were always for the czar, and the czar is dead. Be a realist. Old days are over. Even Monarchy of England has no real power.

Armenian you idiot there are 20 million Muslims in Russia.

I am in Britain now, but I have Muslim ancestors from Tarastan, Russia. I consider my self a British and a Russian Muslim.

but after seeing anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic crap here posted by Russians I have changed my opinion. I use to Support Russian military against the Chechnians but not now because of your anti-Islamic crap.

Reuters is saying that Putin needs. to win war for election.I do not recall reading any Russians saying that that was the case.Propaganda.War is about terrorism.

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Success in subduing rebels in Chechnya on Russia's southern fringe is critical for Acting President Vladimir Putin's bid to win early presidential elections in March prompted by Boris Yeltsin's New Year Eve resignation as president.

Putin, heavily favored as the election campaign gets under way, has built his popularity on an uncompromising stand in Chechnya, despite Western criticism of bombardments which have caused high civilian casualties and vast numbers of refugees.