- For centuries, the small Muslim country has been subject to a series of Russian occupations. Expect Vladimir Putin to use the marathon bombing to further rationalize Moscow's brutal rule.
- Given the media spotlight that will descend on the region in the next few days, it is absolutely essential to separate the country's three major political groups: Russia's puppet dictatorship, led by Ramzan Kadyrov; the radical Islamist rebellion led by Dokka Umarov; and the legitimate government of Chechnya, headed by the exiled Akhmed Zakayev.
EDIT: in all seriousness, though, this is a critical read (and so are the spinoff links) -- especially for anyone who thinks that the fall of the Wall means we don't need to worry about Russia anymore, which seems to be the vast majority of Americans.
I once met a Russian ex-pat who had served in Chechnya. He was a pretty scary guy. As awful as the bombing in Boston was, I wonder as I often do if the media and politicians are shining a harder light on the situation and casting deeper shadows than really merits the light of day. Those young guys might have been born in Chechnya, but if they were affiliated with some kind of organization, then I'll be surprised. If the attack had been organized by someone with the kind of experience gained by decades of fighting, it stands to reason that the damage would have been much more extensive and the death toll much higher.
- Chechnya has been ripped apart by Russian aggression for centuries. Most notoriously, Stalin deported its entire population to Kazakhstan in 1944.
WUT? How is that even possible?
Then again, I guess it isn't that different from the trail of tears (force relocation of an entire people)...