Originally posted by Martlet
What's the difference between them and the Saddam regime?
Nope, I think taking hostages can pretty much seal you into the category of "combatant". Just my opinion though.
Apology accepted.
Terrorists are not "combatants" and do not have any protection from international cobventions.
Some things about attack of Grozniy.
At the New Year 1995, Russian Army made a first attemt to take control of Grozniy, a Russian-built city, former Cossak fortress. The city was full of civilians, mostly Russians, and so Army just entered it WITHOUT any heavy weapons support. Special forces had to leave anythinh other then their automats and bayonets, even no grenade launchers or jet firethrowers. The result was a complete disaster, a catastrophe. City was heavily fortified, Chechens successfully used ambushes and mines. Losses were unbelievably high. Some of the bodies of unknown soldiers still wait for identefication, 8 years later
Anyway, in several weeks Army took control of Grozniy, and later, in Summer 1996, had to leave it and Hankala base after Hasavjurt peace treaty.
After Chechen agression in Dagestan that was followed by apartment bombings in Russian cities, Army came back to restore order. This time it was obvious that Grozniy is no more then just a terrorist fortress. The city was surrounded and a passage was left for civilians to leave the city. They waited for several weeks, made sure that noone else leaves the city and started an assault according to regulations based on WWII experience. You can see the result.
The funniest thing was when one officer came to Basayeb's headquaters, and promised to show terrorists the safe way out of the city, saying that Russian command will not intercept them if they pay $200,000. Chechens payed. The "safe way out" turned to be a valley full of landmines and already was tested by several artillery batteries. Very few escaped, unfortunately Basayev was one of them, but he had his leg torn off.
Now let me translate some terms from "terrorist human rights" language to English.
Kidnapping - an arrest of a known terrorist hiding in a village. Compare it to "Russian POWs" who usually turn out to be slaves or businessmen held in zindans for money.
Criminal "zachistka" (cleaning) - a planned operation when a village is checked for illwgal weapons, known terrorists, and passport regime violators (usually Moslim mercenaries).
Since 2000, most of the "freedom fighters" are Arab mercenaries, "working" for money. Saudi sheikhs send them great sum of money, and to prove they are fighting a Jihad they have to make videos of blown-up vehicles and tortured Russians.
Martlet, you said you are aware that US helps Chechen terrorists. I just want to know: is it OK for you?
Another thing for you. You posted a link to a Chechen propaganda site. That people are murderers, they practice terrorism, slavery and tortures. After 9-11 I posted some links to Kavkaz.org, where they cheered the destruction of WTC.
It' simple: you have to choose your side.
