April 20, 2013
THE REPUGNANCE OF REALISM:
Chechen Terrorism and the Vindication of Vladimir Putin (Jacob Heilbrunn, April 19, 2013, National Interest)
When it comes to Chechnya, Russia knows more about the region than anyone else. Has it employed brutal methods to try and subdue it? Absolutely. But it is a hotbed of Islamic militants who also fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now they appear to be heading toward America itself in their deluded belief that they're waging a battle against the evil Western empire.The Obama administration will have to study what went wrong. Part of studying that should include a reassessment of relations with Russia--not an ally under the Putin regime. But surely a country that America can cooperate with on mutual matters of national interests. Halting, as far as possible, terrorism is one such interest.
So we're supposed to connive at the repression of an entire people because of a couple knuckleheads? Way to legitimize the violence.
Posted by Orrin Judd at April 20, 2013 4:01 PM
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