APPLE BARREL EFFECT
We have heard a great deal in the last years or so-much of it not to well-informed - about a place called Chechnya. In all truth, which can also found to be rare at many informational stocks these days, we didn't have the slightest idea where Chechnya was, other than the apparent fact that it must be a part of Russia – and an unhappy part thereof, as well.
It was a perfectly natural thing for us to go along with President Vladimir Putin and others who spoke of the “separatists”. We learned they have been that for centuries. The local tribes - who live by an ancient code of tribal association unknown at any other place in the world. The first Czar's molested them and by agreeing to be part of Russia, in theory, they were left alone – ignored. Native Chechnya patriots have long conducted a steady campaign of separation from Russia, including the Soviet Union, seeking a separate national existence. When what is now called Russia was set apart from the, Chechen patriots thought it only right that Chechnya be set apart from Russia. It didn't happen that way, of course. The Kremlin and Interior Ministry insisted the “separatists” be brought under control.
President Putin no longer speaks of them as “Separatists” as he used to do. He has, almost as if joining in on a fashion of our day, suddenly being quoted calling them “Terrorists.”
We need to realize that President Putin was correct on both counts.
We have an old saying which illustrates what happens when a few rotten apples are placed in a barrel of perfectly good apples, and that is the case in Chechnya. Separatist bravado has changed to barbarity of the ancient type as Al Qaeda advisers have moved in to change the methods by which Chechen has been fighting for its freedom. Osama bin Laden listed Chechen resistance as being a vital portion of his global religious war. The movement has even adopted the Islamic extremism tactic of financing their activities by securing money through charity fund drives around the world.
The ancient Chechnya tradition has a particular type of revenge known as “adat,” which may, in some, strange manner, bring about a solution to this tragic series of wrong judgments.
Now, at least, Russia and the United States are fighting a common enemy
A.L.M. September 23, 2004 [c404wds]
