OP/ED: Chechnya: Russia's Dirty War

With this Post, I am going to Investigate the Russian-Chechen Conflict and Seek the Roots of Chechen Terrorist Actions against the Targets in Russia, like the Moscow Siege and the Attack on Beslan.




It is more then Obvious, that the Terrorist Actions agianst Russia started with the Russian Invasion of Chechnya and the Brutal and Dirty War Russian Army waged against the People of this Land, mostly CIVILAN - and yet again, the Children pay the Highest price in this Conflict too.

It all Started with the Collapse of Soviet Union and the Rapid spread of Independant States, separating from the Soviet Union. Just like any other Country, Chechya has a Dream of Independance and Sovereignty - but those Dreams have been denied by the Russians in the Past also, so basicly it is just an Old Story, happening all over Again. It all started in the times of the Peter the Great, which Annexed Chechnya after a Brutal and Bloody Massacres of these People, which the Russians called BANDITI, clearly showing the Level of Respect.

The First Chechen War began in 1994 when Russian forces entered Chechnya to restore civil order and central rule.

The spread of the war and the rise of new separatist activities



Boris Yeltsin's expectations of a quick surgical strike followed by Chechen capitulation were horribly misguided. Russia was quickly submerged in a quagmire. Trying to emulate American tactics, he forced upon Russian commanders to show "restraint". However, Russian commanders were not prepared nor trained for this. Other problems occurred as Yeltsin sent in freshly trained conscripts from the local region instead of sending in more professional soldiers. Highly mobile units of Chechen fighters inflicted humiliating losses on Russia's ill-prepared, and in general demoralized troops. The Russian military command then resorted to devastating air raids and use of artillery, causing enormous losses among the (Chechen and Russian) civilian population. When the Russians attacked the Chechen capital of Grozny during the first weeks of January 1995, about 25,000 civilians died under a week-long air-raid and artillery fire in the sealed-off city. The Russians are reported to have lost some thousands soldiers during their assault.

Massive use of artillery and air strikes remained the dominating strategy throughout the Russian campaign. In addition, Russian troops committed numerous and, in part, systematic war crimes against civilians, such as severe torture and summary executions, which often were linked to raids affecting entire villages. In the village of Samashki alone, about 100 civilians were killed by the Russians, and several hundreds beaten up or otherwise severely tortured. Chechen insurgents, in turn, resorted to guerrilla tactics, such as setting booby-traps and mining roads. As the war went on, they increasingly organized large hostage takings, seeking to exert pressure on the Russian public and the Russian leadership.

Yeltsin's Plan to End this Conflcit with Chechnya the American Way with lots of Bombing and Air-raids did not work very well. The Russian public widely disagreed with the President and his War and he lost several points. The Death toll of Russian Soldiers, mostly Novice Conscripts, was Big and the Demoralized and poorly Trained Russian Army proved to be totally Non-effective against Chechen Rebels and their Guerrilla Tactics. Although a Russian rocket attack killed Dudayev in April 1996, the Chechens persisted.

On August 1996 Yeltsin's national security adviser, Alexander Lebed, brokered a ceasefire agreement with Chechen leaders, and a peace treaty was formally signed in May 1997.

Allegedly, 5,500 Russian soldiers and 73,000 Chechens died in almost two years of war.

The War Crimes Commited by the Russian Army were Horrific.

According to Human Rights Watch, Russian forces have indiscriminately and disproportionately bombed and shelled civilian objects, causing heavy civilian casualties.

War Crimes In Chechnya and the Response of the West



The Russian forces have ignored their Geneva convention obligations to focus their attacks on combatants, and appear to take few safeguards to protect civilians: It is this carpet-bombing campaign which has been responsible for the vast majority of civilian deaths in the conflict in Chechnya. The Russian forces have used powerful surface-to surface rockets on numerous occasions, causing death tolls in the hundreds in the Central Market bombing in Grozny and in many smaller towns and villages. Lately, Russian commanders have threatened to use even more powerful explosives, including fuel air explosives which could have a disastrous casualty count if used against civilian targets. The bombing campaign has turned many parts of Chechnya to a wasteland: even the most experienced war reporters I have spoken to told me they have never seen anything in their careers like the destruction of the capital Grozny.

Russian forces have often refused to create safe corridors to allow civilians to leave areas of active fighting, trapping civilians behind front lines for months. The haggard men and women who came out of Grozny after a perilous journey told me of living for months in dark, cold cellars with no water, gas or electricity and limited food: their little children were often in shock, whimpering in the corners of their tents in Ingushetia and screaming in fright whenever Russian war planes flew over, reminding them of the terror in Grozny.

Men especially face grave difficulties when attempting to flee areas of fighting: they are subjected to verbal taunting, extortion, theft, beatings, and arbitrary arrest. On several occasions, refugee convoys have come under intense bombardment by Russian forces, causing heavy casualties. Currently, tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped in the Argun river gorge in Southern Chechnya, stuck behind Russian lines without a way out from the constant bombardment and rapidly running out of food supplies.

But Aerial Bombardment was only the Beginning. Russian Military conducted several Massacres, they were burning and looting, Raping women, Killing Older People and Children, Shooting people in the Streets, in their Homes, on their Yards.

The War created a Big Number of Refugees, more then 300.000 of them, which did not have Food, Water, Medicine or any Shelter. Most of them were Forced to Return to the Wartorn lands they once called home, for they could not Run away.

So far, no high-ranking Russian officer has been meaningfully punished for allowing or participating in the abuse of civilians or the mistreatment of separatist combatants who have been taken prisoner.


Then the Second Chechen War started. The Reason for the second War is are alleged Serioes of Terrorist Bomb Attacks by Chechen Rebels in Russia - especially the Bombing in Buynaksk on September 4th, in an apartment building housing members of families of Russian soldiers, 62 dead. Russian Goverment Blamed the Chechens, altho they Denied the Involvment. Whats even MORE interesting is the following:

Bombings in Russia

Some high-profile individuals (including the exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky), connected with the rebels, have suggested that the FSB (a Russian intelligence service) staged the bombings to provide a pretext for an invasion of Chechnya.

Sounds Familiar?

Then in late September the Russian Military started yet another Military Intervention in Chechnya, this time even more Bloody. They moved slow and basicly used Heavy Artillery to Soften up their Targets, which most of the time Resulted in complete and utter Destruction of Urban areas and the Death of several thousand Civilans.



Capital of Grozny, seen on picture above, was Completly Surrounded and Bombarded without any Mercy or Remorse, and by the February 2000 it was almost levelled with the Ground. Surviving Chechen rebels sought to escape into the hills surrounding the city. Despite the Destruction of Grozny, Chechen Rebels continued to Fight the Russian Forces wherever they could. And above all, they spread the Russian-Chechen Conflict beyond the Borders of their Homeland to Russian Federation itself. They still call this Struggle the War of Liberation, which has not Ended to this Day.

Crimes of War in Chechnya

nstead of attacking with infantry and tanks, the Russian army, in an attempt to reduce its own casualties, used heavy equipment and firepower to lay waste to the Chechen capital Grozny and many other towns and villages. The loss of life, mostly civilian, and the damage to property was terrific -- today most towns are still in ruin. In many instances Russian troops committed appalling war crimes, deliberately attacking the civilian population in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions. There is credible evidence of use of the so-called Heavy Flamethrowing System (TOS-1) - a fuel bomb land-based multiple launch delivery system, also known as "Buratino" among the Russian rank and file - against Chechen towns and villages during the winter campaign of 2000. The third protocol of the 1980 Geneva Convention strictly forbids the use of such "air-delivered incendiary weapons" in populated areas, even against military targets.

To compensate for the low quality of their fighting units in Chechnya, Russian military chiefs have adopted a strategy that tries to copy NATO's policy in the Balkans in 1999: bomb till victory and win without heavy casualties.

However, the indiscriminate attacks did not make the second Chechen war a "low casualty" engagement even for Russian forces. Unofficial estimates put Russian military losses in both Chechen conflicts (1994-1996 and 1999-2003) as high as 12,000 dead and some 100,000 wounded. Chechen losses (mostly civilian) are estimated at 100,000 or more.

The Russian Union of Soldiers’ Mothers Committee estimates that some 11,000 servicemen have been killed, with another 25,000 wounded. It estimates the civilian death toll at about 20,000 people. Chechen authorities quote a figure closer to 100,000 killed, with up to 240,000 injured.

For many people the War in Chechnya is a War of Independance of these People - but actually BEHIND the Curtian of the Kremlin lies the Real Reason for this Bloody Conflict:

Spoils of OIL

A major oil pipeline carries oil from fields in Baku on the Caspian Sea and Chechnya toward the Ukraine. Grozny has a major oil refinery along this pipeline. For Russia it is important that the oil pipelines and routes they take so oil can be sold to the western markets also meet their needs. However, there are various pipelines in discussion that does not involve Russia.

Major Western oil companies and the American government managed to keep out Iran from the picture. In addition, by also getting oil pipelines routed through Georgia, Russian influence was reduced. As a result, Russia want to do what they can to control the spoils, while the West do the same, leaving Chechnya in the middle being fought for by the two.

Yet again it comes down to Natural Resouces - OIL to be Exact. Global Politics are based on this Resource, and Words that Politicians use to seek Approval among their People, are just a Deception to Hide their Main Reasons to go to War.

Most of the time, it has to do with MONEY.

And OIL!



So, we have come to Petrodollar Politics in Chechen Conflict too.

• Furthermore, oil is a significant factor in this region.
  
• A major oil pipeline carries oil from fields in Baku on the Caspian Sea and Chechnya toward the Ukraine;
  
• Grozny's major oil refinery along this pipeline and Russia's interest to ensure their oil needs are also met has led them to be more concerned that pipeline discussions by major western oil companies have not involved them;
  
• As long as Chechnya is a part of Russia, Moscow would have a say in the oil flowing through it.

It is More then Obvious that Chechen Rebels are now seeking Help from ALL Islamic Volunteers, that want to come and help them in this Fight against the Russian Federation. It is more then Obvious that, Russia is to Blame for all the Terrorist Attacks on their Soil - because they would not Happen at all, if th Chechen-Russian Conflict would be solved Peacefully. But when you use Brutal Force, as the Russian Military did - you always Receive that Brutal Force Back.

Russia Buries Evidence of Atrocities

“the U.N. Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution on Chechnya that condemned serious human rights violations by Russia's forces, and raised concern about forced disappearances, torture, and summary executions. Sponsored by the E.U., and with strong U.S. backing, the resolution called for U.N. special rapporteurs to investigate these abuses in the war-torn republic and for credible criminal investigations by domestic agencies into all human rights and humanitarian law violations. Russia rejected a similar resolution adopted by the commission last year, and refused to comply with its requirements. It has vowed to do the same this year.”

And ofcourse Russian denys and Hides all the Evidence about Attrocities they commited in this Conflict. And every Other Nation, that Silently Agreed with Russia, by not ACCUSING them of Breaking International Laws and Conventions, is also being directly Responsible for the Deaths of Hundreds of Thousands of innocent Civilans, who payed with their Life, the Cost of Russians Oil Politics and they are guilty of Supporting the Silent Genocide over the Chechen People.

For Russians always looks at People of Caucasus as Bandits, and even the Russian Goverment, does not refer to them as Human Beings, but as Bandits, as referd to by Vladimir Rushailo, the Russian Interior Minister.

There are only two ways to cope with the bandits - either to liquidate them or to put them in the dock!

So now I hope you will see the Tragedy of Beslan School Siege with Different Eyes - for a Tragedy like Beslan happens EVERYDAY in Chechnya, but with the difference that there are no Cameras and no Media coverege of the Silent Genocide happening in this Small Country.



Related News Links:
news.bbc.co.uk
hrw.org
www.crimesofwar.org
en.wikipedia.org

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
Chechnya: The Conflict the West always ignores
Putin's Hidden War

[edit on 22/1/06 by Souljah]

[edit on 22-1-2006 by Thomas Crowne]

[edit on 22-1-2006 by parrhesia]

What an awesome submission! Theonly problem with this is that the links at the bottom are not working as they are made. Please, send me the links and I'll fix it!

Thanks, it is now fixed.

Originally posted by Thomas Crowne
What an awesome submission! Theonly problem with this is that the links at the bottom are not working as they are made. Please, send me the links and I'll fix it!

Thanks TC!



U2U on its Way!

Bravo! Applause from me!

This is phenomenal. It fits perfectly with my latest covering of the swedish/russian military excersice, where I have dug up info about Colonel Vladimir Frolov. The commander of the forces during the Chechnian wars.
It will be perfect, You covering the Chechnian wars, I am sure glad for You being able to cover russian behaviour at Khankala and Zdorovye (Dachny).
Joint swedish/russian military exercise

You got my vote!

Originally posted by Ulvetann
Bravo! Applause from me!

This is phenomenal. It fits perfectly with my latest covering of the swedish/russian military excersice, where I have dug up info about Colonel Vladimir Frolov. The commander of the forces during the Chechnian wars.
It will be perfect, You covering the Chechnian wars, I am sure glad for You being able to cover russian behaviour at Khankala and Zdorovye (Dachny).
Joint swedish/russian military exercise

You got my vote!

Thanks Ulvetann!



So, the War Criminal is doing Military Exercises instead of sitting in Interntional War Crime Tribunal?

With thousands of Angry Chechen Guerrillas planning for another attack, Russians better be prepared or doomed to repeat their Disastrous Counter-Terrorist Actions once again.

Excellent Post on Vladimir Frolov!

And let's not forget to add the Recent News, dates just over a Month ago:

Radiation alert at Chechen plant

Prosecutors in Chechnya have opened a criminal investigation after finding "catastrophic" levels of radioactivity at a chemical factory in the republic.

Investigators say the radiation - in one place reportedly 58,000 times the usual level - poses a danger to people in the region's capital, Grozny.

The plant has reportedly not been secured since Russia bombed it in 1999.

Legacy of Russis's Dirty War.

Related Threadsa:
NEWS: Thirty Nine People Hospitalized in Chechnya With Symptoms of Poisoning.
Radioactive Alert in Chechnya

You left out a few bits of information like the Chechen collaboration with the Nazis in WW2 and their massacre of Russian forces in Grozny in 1942 which resulted in the expulsion of many Chechen and Ingush people to Siberia and other places until after the war.

That wasn't the first time they had collaborated with the enemy.
They also fought against the Russians during the Russian-Turkish wars.

There may be some involvement of oil in the current dispute but this goes back further than that.

[edit on 22-1-2006 by AceOfBase]

Originally posted by AceOfBase
You left out a few bits of information like the Chechen collaboration with the Nazis in WW2 and their massacre of Russian forces in Grozny in 1942 which resulted in the expulsion of many Chechen and Ingush people to Siberia and other places until after the war.

That wasn't the first time they had collaborated with the enemy.
They also fought against the Russians during the Russian-Turkish wars.

There may be some involvement of oil in the current dispute but this goes back further than that.

[edit on 22-1-2006 by AceOfBase]

Actually it goes even Further and Deeper.

Fact is that Chechen and other Cossacks in the Caucasus were constantly under foreign rule, from 15th Century onward. First they were Fought by Turks and were slowly and systematicly Islamized.

The Strong Resistance to Russians began with the Peter the Great and the Russian invasion of Persia through Caucasus in Russia-Turkish and Russia-Persian Wars. That is the Legacy of the Empire. Spoils of War.

And what do yo the Chechen People get?

Role of the Scapegoat:

Soviet Rule

Chechen Rebellion would characteristically flame up whenever the Russian state faced a period of internal uncertainty. Rebellions occurred during the Russo-Turkish War (See Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878), the Russian Revolution of 1905, the Russian Revolution of 1917, Russian Civil War, and Collectivization. Under Soviet Rule, Chechnya was combined with Ingushetia to form the autonomous republic of Chechen-Ingushetia in the late 1930s. The Chechens, though, again rose up against Soviet rule during the 1940s, resulting in the deportation of the Chechen population to the Kazakh SSR (later Kazakhstan) and Siberia during World War II.

Interesting huh?

Chechen Rebellion would characteristically flame up whenever the Russian state faced a period of internal uncertainty.

And what is a Bigger Uncertainty then the Collapse of the Soviet Union?

Can the new Russian Federation pass the test if they are not behind the Global War for Natural Resources?

And then Yeltsin used them as the Russian Federation Test, if after the Cold War the badly hurt Russian Empire can wage war against Countries.

And what better way to try that out, then to start with Chechnya again.

For Russian's Chechens are only Banditi - Bandits. They were so since Peter the Great or Longer. And how Convenient to pick such an Arch Enemy of the Russian Federation, then the people who Hate them for what they have done to them, the Most.

So you bet it goes deeper then that.

It is a Legacy of Imperialism - just like the French and Algeria.

[edit on 22/1/06 by Souljah]

Here are some Links I forgot to Post in the Original OP/ED.

Guardian's Coverege
Chechen Republic Website
Norbert's Chechnya Bookmarks
Prague Watchdog
Foreign Policy in Focues - Country Profile
Infoplease - Chechnya
BBC Timeline
The conflict the west always ignores
American Committe for Peace in Chechnya
Yahoo! News Archives
Russian Today
Chechnya News
Kavkaz Center

Russian FSB are caught planting bombs in buildings to blame on the Chechens.

Most Russians are unlikely to see The Attempt on Russia, a French documentary shot with the help of tycoon Boris Berezovsky, now self-exiled to London. The film alleges involvement of Russian secret services in the Moscow and the Volgodonsk apartment bombings in the fall of1999. The terrorist attacks claimed 247 lives and paved the way for a new Chechen war that helped install Vladimir Putin as Russian President. While denying the claim, the Kremlin made sure that Russian TV would not show the footage, screened by human rights groups to limited audiences.

Google Video Link

Looks like the Russkies are also using False Flag Operations in their War on Terror.