More about Talibs and Russia's "allies" against the terrorism, so to speak. Of all countries still forming a "buffer zone" between Russia and Afghanistan, Turkmenistan feels most relaxed. Having once agreed with Talibs that a pipeline would pass through their territory, this neighbour of Russia believes it is immune to Islamic expansion. Moreover, there is data to the effect that it trades with Talibs and supplies them with commodities and fuels.
Uzbekistan, and even more so Tajikistan, appreciate the treat, are actively involved in the negotiating process and are said to render some assistance to Masoud who stands between Talibs and their borders. Russia fully apprehends the pernicious effect of being neighbours with Talibs and is insistently but thus far unsuccessfully calling on the global community to at least carry out the UN resolution on economic sanctions against Talibs, adopted at the initiative of the Americans angered by acts of terrorism against their embassies. But Washington is reluctant to lean on the movement too hard, for it is a major factor of pressure on Moscow. Let them live, only surrender bin Laden to us.

I GUESS SUICIDE IS ON THE RISE FOR ALL SOLDIERS REGARDLESS OF NATIONALITY.I RECALL SOMEONE POSTING STORY ABOUT RUSSIAN SOLDIERS IN CHECHNYA.

---

Soldier Suicides Are on the Rise
By Robert Burns
AP Military Writer
Monday, June 12, 2000; 5:16 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON –– Soldier suicides are on the rise.

In hopes of rallying his troops to confront this sensitive issue, the Army chief of staff has issued an unusually public – and deliberately blunt – call for commanders to take the offensive.

"We have a serious problem with suicides," Gen. Eric K. Shinseki wrote in a message published in the latest issue of Soldiers, an Army magazine. The matter is urgent, he said. "We must take better care of our people."

Official statistics do not indicate any general increase in suicides for the military as a whole, although the Army says its suicide rate has gone up the past two years, to one of the highest levels since the 1970s.

In the first five days of 2000, the Army had four suspected suicides, Shinseki said.

The Army is taking steps to "fine tune" its approach to suicide prevention, said Lt. Col. Glen Bloomstrom, the family ministry officer for the Army chief of chaplains. Shinseki's plea is part of that new push, he said in an interview.

The Army last year had 65 confirmed suicides and 12 deaths suspected to be suicides, a rate of 15.5 suicides per 100,000 soldiers. That rate climbed for the second year in a row and is the highest among the services; only twice before over the past two decades was the Army's rate higher.

The Marine Corps last year had a rate of 15 suicides per 100,000 service members, the Navy's was 11 and the Air Force was at 5.6.

The actual number of military suicides may not seem large, considering that the active-duty force now stands at 1.3 million. But suicides over the past 10 years have been the second-leading cause of death, after accidents.

During that time, about 10 times as many troops have died at their own hand as from hostile fire.

Although official statistics on suicides among the general U.S. population are not directly comparable to the military, the civilian suicide rate for white males in their 20s – the predominant group in the military – was about 24 per 100,000 in 1997. That is about twice the rate for the military.

A Pentagon-sponsored study in 1997, triggered by the shocking suicide of the Navy's top officer, Adm. Mike Boorda in May 1996, said it was not clear whether life in the military carries unique risks of suicide.

On the other hand, some aspects of the military culture may inhibit some who need help from seeking it, according to Dr. John F. Mazzuchi, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for clinical policy.

"The military is a macho institution," he said in an interview. "There is the perception that if I let them know I'm weak they won't want me around."

It is that stigma which the Army hopes to eliminate, following an approach taken by the Air Force in recent years.

The Air Force has put extra emphasis on encouraging people who may be prone to suicide to seek help on their own and on creating a "buddy" system in which co-workers who identify danger signs in a colleague refer that individual for counseling.

The Air Force alone among the services has managed to significantly lower its suicide rate, which stood at 15.2 per 100,000 service member as recently as 1996. Mazzuchi and others say it is not clear, however, what accounts for that success.

"There are two questions: Why, and can they sustain it?" said Navy Capt. Frances Stewart of the Pentagon's health affairs office.

The Army is trying to emulate the Air Force's success, in part by attacking the stigma problem. Shinseki wants to get the word out to commanders that erasing the stigma is their responsibility.

"To be effective, you must be willing to stand before your soldiers and tell them with sincerity that it takes a strong, courageous person to admit to having emotional problems and seek help for suicidal feelings," the Army says in a new booklet, "Suicide Prevention: Could I Have Done More?"

There is some evidence to support the notion that Army commanders are not in tune with the problem.

An internal Army paper last summer described in general terms the findings of "psychological autopsies" of five suicides – analyses of the personal and psychological conditions under which the suicides happened.

The report found that one soldier had attempted suicide several times previously; two others had talked about committing suicide, including one who had been treated at a psychiatric ward several times.

In only one the five cases – the soldier who had been treated – did their superiors suspect a problem, the analyses found.

Statistically, the typical military suicide is committed by a white male in the upper levels of the enlisted ranks. Frequently the person has suffered a recent breakup of a marriage or other close personal relationship, and often alcohol or personal financial problems are involved, Mazzuchi said.

Among the military occupations at highest risk for suicide: Army infantryman, Marine small-arms technician, Navy seamen recruit, and law enforcement specialists in all services, according to a recent analysis by Stewart.

June 12 Today Russian army and police troops launched a special operation in Chechnya. "In the course of the special operation we plan to apprehend a number of known terrorists and rebel field commanders," said General Gennady Troshev. Preliminary results of the operation should be available as soon as tomorrow morning. A group of 25 rebel fighters was completely destroyed by Russian ground troops and aviation near the Georgian border. In Gudermes police detained a 25-year-old rebel fighter on a reconnaissance mission. The man was armed with F-1 hand grenades and had a "Cobra" portable radio transmitter. In Leninsky district of Grozny OMON soldiers detained a member of Maskhadov's special forces. The man had documents with the name of Mohammed Aliyev and is currently being interrogated by the police.

Chechnya's religious leader Akhmad Kadyrov was appointed by Vladimir Putin the head of the provisional government in Chechnya. This was announced today by the speaker of the Federation Council - the highest house of the Russian Parliament - Yegor Stroyev. Kadyrov is one of the few public figures in Chechnya accepted and trusted by the majority of the population and Kadyrov's appointment as the head of the administration was expected for several months now. Little is known about Akhmad Kadyrov's political views. He is a careful, tightlipped man who, until recently, rarely advertised his support for any political forces in Chechnya. A few years ago Kadyrov supported Chechnya's President Aslan Maskhadov, but grew increasingly wary of Maskhadov's acceptance of religious extremists from abroad. In the recent months Kadyrov openly criticized Maskhadov for allowing the situation in Chechnya to deteriorate and folding under the pressure from Basayev, Khattab and other extremists. Kadyrov sharply criticized the invasion of Dagestan by Chechen fighters in August of 1999 and was a vocal supporter of Moscow's policies in this regard.

In the southwest of Argun Russian police convoy was attacked by the rebels at 0635 hrs local time. The battle lasted for several hours and involved army aviation and additional troops. As the result six Russian soldiers were wounded. Currently police is conducting a thorough security sweep operation in the area searching for the rebel fighters responsible for the attack. A remote-controlled landmine was found by Russian soldiers at a marketplace in Zavodskoy district of Grozny. A pair of wires about 70 meters long were leading from the landmine to a secure location near the marketplace. The rebels planted several similar devices in Grozny a day before the Day of Russia - a Russian national holiday celebrating Russia's independence from the Soviet Union and the creation of the Russian Federation.

Two Russian OMON soldiers were killed and one was wounded by a car bomb explosion in Oktyabrsky district of Grozny. At about 1700 hrs local time police stopped a VAZ-2109 passenger car for inspection. The car's driver, who had documents on the name of a 25-year-old Sergey Slyusaryev, offered police a bribe. When the OMON soldiers declined it and proceeded to search the vehicle, the car's driver triggered a hidden explosive device killing himself and two OMON soldiers - Sgt. Vladimir Melnikov and Stg. Yuri Korolyev - and seriously wounding another soldier, who was later taken to a hospital.

Aslan Maskhadov contacted the government of Malaysia asking it to act as an intermediary in negotiations with the Russian Federation. In an interview with Malaysia's national news agency "Bernama" Maskhadov explained his request by the fact that he does not have any other way to directly contact the Kremlin. The government of Malaysia officially stated on numerous occasions that it will not interfere in Russia's internal politics.

By Gonzo ( - 208.23.220.30) on Tuesday, June 6, 2000 - 06:08 pm:


>The guy is convicted and senticed to life in
>prison even though John Salvi himself asks for
>the death penalty.

So this John Salvi is a classic American hero in the like Patrick Henry who said, "Give me liberty or give me death!"

Igor, the 8:31 post is from
"welcome to Serbia" is it not?

Purleeeeze!!!

Is it time to quote Lemarc* yet?

Kim

*Clue : World War 1 poet, soldier and writer

OOOppss

That should of course be Remarque.
Me being too clever for my own shoesize.
Kim

Smart thinking Maskhadov. Ask Malaysia to negotiate with Russia. US & Europe couldn't do it, perhaps Malaysia, the next super-power, can. He should of ask Erithrea instead. Bone-head. Less Hashish next time.

Tonio,

Bored with the Atheists so soon?

Kim

I smell lard. Lard-Breath balalaika was here.

Mashkhadov is asking for peace for saving the civilians from the Russian bandits but the Chechen fighters will bleed Russia to death. Only peace that will end war will be Sharia not the peace proposed by Mashkhadov. Just wait and see. Russia will witness a massacre of its troops in Chechnya and Russian Generals will plead to Lebed to save the Russian Army. No power including the rapist Clinton will be able to save Russian Army this time from total annihilation.

NO KIM ARX THE POST IS FROM WASHINGTON POST

---

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20000612/aponline171654_000.htm

Ending the War Once and For All: Putin Takes Control of Chechnya
0304 GMT, 000613
In a move that suggests imminent offensive military action, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed direct executive control of the breakaway Chechen republic on June 9. Putin, who rose to power in part on the popularity of the Chechen campaign, again needs to direct his attention to the festering southern republic.

Two critical obstacles have delayed an overdue Russian military victory in Chechnya: external support for the Chechens and a mostly reactionary military strategy.

Putin’s assumption of personal responsibility for the outcome in Chechnya, at a time when such a move was unnecessary, foreshadows a Russian tactical change. Putin will have to be pro-active, re-launching another final, aggressive offensive, most likely paired with a crackdown on countries supplying the rebels with arms.

After Putin’s presidential victory at the end of March, the Russian military high command halted offensive action in Chechnya, allowing only “mopping up” operations necessary to support the Kremlin’s assertion that it had already won back Chechnya. What had been an aggressive offensive had shrunk to a stagnant, reactionary operation.

More than eight months into the conflict, approximately 90,000 Russian troops have yet to recover control of the territory from what is now estimated to be less than 5,000 Chechen and mercenary fighters. Russia claims to control the region, but cannot protect even its own bases.

The rebels have repeatedly ambushed Russian convoys and instigated fighting from within Russian-controlled towns. Recently, the Chechens have employed a new tactic – suicide bombing. In the past week, militants have twice caught federal forces off guard by driving car bombs straight into Russian bases in Chechnya, killing as many as six soldiers.

Russia’s field commanders in Chechnya realize that without adopting a more aggressive strategy they will never win the war. Russian Col. Gen. Gennady Troshev last week called for the politicians who began the war to end it; however, he remains opposed to negotiations with the Chechens. Two days later, Putin issued the decree establishing direct, day-to-day presidential authority over both the civil and military administration of the region.

While the Russian military has an overwhelming numeric advantage, several other factors give the rebels the upper hand. First, spring weather in the Caucasus provides leafy cover ideal for guerrilla maneuvers. The foliage also cuts down on effective air strike and reconnaissance capability, and rainfall makes the ground too muddy for Russian vehicles to travel through quickly.

Second, the current Russian military strategy, or lack thereof, has rendered the troops easy targets for rebel attack. Since federal forces are doing little more than garrisoning, the rebels can pick the time and place for their attacks. Third, the rebels continue to receive help from sources outside of Chechnya – and therefore outside of Russian control, at least for now.

Putin cannot prevent the advent of spring in the Caucasus, but he can try to cut off foreign aid to the rebels and launch a new offensive. The rebels are receiving arms, funds and reinforcements from two sources: comrades stationed throughout the Caucasus who sneak supplies over Chechnya’s borders and sympathetic Islamic militants in Afghanistan.

Moscow, threatened by the porous border, has tried repeatedly to gain complete control over the boundary between Chechnya and Georgia. Tbilisi refuses to allow Russian troops to guard the border from within Georgia, but has otherwise grudgingly cooperated – but not enough for Moscow.

On June 6 director of the Russian Federal Border Guard Konstantin Totsky paid a working visit to Tbilisi to “reinforce” the border, reported ITAR-Tass. Also, according to an Agence France Presse article, the Kremlin plans to lay anti-personnel landmines along the Georgian border.

Another source of supply for the rebels, Afghanistan, is about to become a target of Russian antagonism. Mercenaries, with their money and arms, bolster the Chechen forces, as evidenced by the participation of Jordanian-born rebel leader Khattab. Recently, reports out of Moscow have claimed that Afghan mercenaries in eastern Chechnya are ready to attack. This belief helps explain talk out of Moscow that Russia plans to launch an attack against Afghanistan.

Such an operation could significantly help Russia in Chechnya, without much cost to Russia. If, for instance, Russia launched strikes against Afghanistan – home to many Islamic mercenaries – it could lure foreign mercenaries, money and arms away from Chechnya and back to Afghanistan, probably without suffering any real international reproof.

Regardless of the actual method, Putin is poised to initiate the first pro-active Russian stance in Chechnya in months. Expect to see Moscow creating chaos in Afghanistan, jostling for more control of the Georgian border and resuming an offensive in Chechnya. THIS IS GOOD NEWS.AFGHANISTAN IS GOING TO GET BLASTED.

>>>By IGOR ( - 149.99.70.205) on Tuesday, June 13, 2000 - 03:16 am:
Ending the War Once and For All: Putin Takes Control of Chechnya
0304 GMT, 000613

THIS IS GOOD NEWS.AFGHANISTAN IS GOING TO GET BLASTED. >>>

Something must be seriously wrong with Russians. They have either too short memory, or not able to learn their lessons. Come on Rusians, if Chechnya is not enough trouble, have a go in Afghanistan. More than 30,000 casualty in Chechnhya in less than eight months, what do you think it will cost you another 10 years in Afghanistan? Breakup and disintegration of Russia?

>>>>By Dimitri's Friend ( - 172.161.143.7) on Saturday, June 10, 2000 - 03:36 pm:

When was the last time anyone adressed someting directly to you? >>>>>

YOU JUST DID, IDIOT, BRAINLESS MORON. You are so dumb, you can not even realise how stupid you are!!!! What a joke and looser you are.

Get the message: you're not welcomed here.

BETTERTHAN DARLINK How sweet of you to offer to come to my assistance yesterday. And I thought that you no longered cared.