Could this be counter productive???

[CaptainHaplo]

Lets examine this whole "counterproductive" idea for just a second...

Fact: Some Muslim "radicals" from Chechnya decided that, at the behest of their religion, they would plan and execute attacks against innocent Russian civilians.

Fact: These same Muslim "radicals" choose to corrupt women as well as men to carry out these attacks.

Fact: The supposedly non-radcal muslim population of Chechnya has done nothing to prevent these abhorent actions (though the claim is they do not support such acts - since "moderate" muslims never do).

Fact: If Russia does nothing, these attacks will continue unabated, and worsen in both frequency and likely in destruction

Fact: By offensive action against the areas where these plots are planned, logisticaly supported and staged from, the ability of the "radical" muslims to effectively stage such operations is diminished, thus saving the lives of russian citizens (which the government has the duty to protect).

So we end up with a binary choice ....

A) Do nothing as more of your own people are killed, eventually leading to a reduction of political power due to ruling government's inability to protect its citizenry.... OR

B) Go kill the morons killing your people, as well as those who, being guilty by LACK of action to stop said morons, which improves your standing with your own people since you are protecting them.

Gee - which choice would be "counterproductive" to the interest of the Russian government?

What has to be realized - and its demonstrated every day in the tribal areas of the middle east, is that to the muslim "extremist" - you are either FOR them, or AGAINST them - there is no middle ground. Thus, Russian leaders choose to deal with the Chechen's using the same viewpoint - you were either for them - or you would have worked to stop them.