September 9, 2004
BECAUSE IT WORKS:
Russia shapes plan of attack (Scott Peterson, 9/10/04, The Christian Science Monitor)
President Vladimir Putin refuses to meet with top Chechen separatist leaders, whom he holds responsible for a wave of terror that includes two downed passenger jets, a suicide bomb in Moscow, and the hostage crisis. But analysts say that Mr. Putin may offer far broader autonomy to Chechnya, which adds up to "de facto independence," according to American experts who took part in a 3 1/2-hour meeting with the Russian leader.
There's no dishonor in bowing to the inevitable. Posted by Orrin Judd at September 9, 2004 7:20 PM
Sheesh. Who cares if a politician has honor?
Don't results count?
Orrin, you are probably the only person in the whole world, including Chechnya, who gives a hoot whether Chechnya is independent.
It wasn't about that.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at September 9, 2004 10:37 PMI thought Scott Peterson would be awfully busy this wee with the trial and all.
Posted by: Jeff at September 9, 2004 11:23 PMWe don't get to not take sides.
The Muslims decided to divide the world into two camps.
Everybody's in one or the other. No neutrals.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at September 10, 2004 1:38 AMHarry:
Easy on the ignorance pedal. The divide between Sunni and Shi'a is more significant than that between the Shi'a and us.
Posted by: oj at September 10, 2004 8:44 AMOrrin, I understand you consider yourself the second most influential ayatollah after Sistani, but can 25 million Shia be wrong?
It's their religion. You already have one. You should have the politeness to let them have theirs.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at September 10, 2004 10:35 PMWe're trying, just as we gave the Poles back Catholicism by getting rid of their dictators.
Posted by: oj at September 10, 2004 11:09 PM