Commentary

The new czar

Vladimir Putin has described the Russian journalist Anna
Politkovskaya, killed recently in a 1990’s style mafia hit, as
an “extremely insignificant” writer, according to  the Washington
Post.  The term “immensely inconvenient” would be much closer
to Putin’s genuine attitude toward reporters such as Politkovskaya,
who dare to reveal the ugly realities of the war in Chechnya.

Mr. Putin and his KGB cronies have not been linked to this crime,
but this disturbing incident demonstrates that there is another war
being fought, one against human rights workers and critics of the
conflict in Chechnya.  Death threats are issued, false ties to
terrorist groups are spewed by state-run TV, and peaceful vigils
honoring those who died for speaking out are cut short by violent
means.

There are two distinct forces battling for control of Chechnya’s
future.  One looks to the east and advocates radical Islam, the
other to the west, with the desire to create a society based on
democracy and the rule of secular law.  Putin views both with
equal disdain.  Through his eyes, all Chechens are seen as terrorists.
They are simply lumped together and tarred with the same brush
that justifies a continued military intervention.

Mr. Putin’s attempt to crush all opposition in Chechnya is actually
helping to further the cause of radical Islam.  The Caucus region is
plagued by corruption and crime, along with extremely high levels
of unemployment and poverty.  The ranks of recruits for the Jihad
against Russia is growing by the day.  The combustible mix of
poverty and violent oppression will continue to burn bright as
long as Putin continues down his current path.  The war in Chechnya
is providing a constant spark, and the lack of Russian support for
economic and political reform in the region will continue to provide
the fuel.

Mr. Putin continues to fight a war on two fronts with the fervor of
Stalin in a 1930s  style purge.  He has shown a disturbing tendency
to dismantle the institutions necessary for the development of a
democratic society.  Russia is basically a one party state, and its
citizens are not afforded the services of a free press.  He has vowed
that 2008 will spell the end of his presidential term, but that is two
years and many manipulations away.

The risks posed by the war in Chechnya extend far beyond the
weakening of his iron grip on power.  His desire to crush both eastern
and western sentiment in Chechnya has only strengthened the Islamic
extremists in the region, and has destroyed the only hope for a
peaceful solution to the conflict.   As Russia fights a futile war for the
selfish desires of its new czar, the seeds for a much larger collision with
radical Islam are provided fertile ground in which to grow.

Greg Strid

© 2006 Splendid Marbles.