From freedom fighters to terrorists: Identity of Boston bombers shifts US attitudes to Chechnya

[dipsydoodle]

The revelation that the two brothers suspected to be behind the Boston Marathon attack are ethnic Chechens has led the US establishment to perform a rapid volte-face towards the previously sympathetically-viewed region and cause.

Through the two separatist wars fought by Chechen militants in the 1990s, the standard US portrayal of the restive region focused on the David and Goliath scale of the adversaries, the ‘denial’ to Chechens of their right to self-determination, and the abuse of human rights.

In the wake of Monday’s attack, a new sinister international image of Chechnya has emerged.

“Chechnya region is cauldron of Islamic militancy” proclaimed the headline in the New York Daily News. For LA Times, it was “Festering Chechen militancy”, while the Washington Times went with “Chechnya is a hotbed of Islamic extremism”

http://rt.com/news/boston-bombers-chechen-identity-125/

[dkf]

1. Oh you are speaking about the experts!

I was about to say that the average American had no opinion on Chechnya to change.

[LiberalEsto]

2. Considering that the source of this is Russia Today

I would take what they claim about U.S. attitudes toward Chechnya with much more than a grain of salt.

Russia has many an axe to grind with Chechnya, and vice versa.

I'm surer they would just LOVE it if the U.S. joined them in regarding Chechnya as an enemy.

I have no clue what the official U.S. stance on Chechnya is, or whether it's changed because of these sick bombers.

[Dan]

6. I do not believe

that the Soviets would allow U.S. Troops or presence that close to Russia... no way, will they be allowed within that sphere.

[tularetom]

3. I hear they have weapons of mass destruction

And they have them hidden in Chechnya to the east, west, north and south.

If we invade the people will throw flowers at us.

So we better start the bombing now.

[LiberalEsto]

4. Drones first

Bombs later


Please try to remember your invasion etiquette.

[Quantess]

5. A no brainer.

Image of Chechnya before Boston Marathon bombing: Russian stacking dolls, potatoes, fur hats

Image of Chechnya after: Terrorist training camp, bombs, muslims