Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov Killed in Stadium Blast

[VolcanoJen]

It's going to be one helluva week...

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2899116

Chechen president Akhmad Kadyrov was killed today after an explosion tore through a stadium where he was attending a Victory Day celebration.

At least 25 people were also wounded in the blast, including senior military official Colonel General Valery Baranov, head of the Joint Army Command of the North Caucasus.

The explosion was caused by a landmine planted under VIP seats at the Dynamo stadium in the capital Grozny, officials said.

LBN Threads here:

Report: Chechen President Killed in Blast

BBC: Many reported hurt in explosion at Chechnya stadium

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. As I said in another thread, on LBN

We may just be witnessing the begining of WW III, I am sure Woosely is tickled pink though... he wanted this... and yes this is the worst case scenario

Or, best case scenario, this is just more Chechen civil war, as tragic as that one is...

Oh and given the revelations this week, fully expect the war to come to the US SOON... it is called blowback

Thanks George, you surely have made us oh so safe...

[VolcanoJen]

2. Hard to say the world is "safer" when terrorists successfully assassinate

any leader. Bush's worst nightmare continues to unfold.

Maybe he'll look into Pootie-Poots eyes and see his soul again...

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Speakng of Poodle

as the scandal unfolds the Hague can demand the UK surrender
Poodle to stand trial. They did sign the Convention....

Now us... a Special Tribunal will be formed... we are now entering an F-5 Hurricane

[KharmaTrain]

4. Honest Question...

How does a possible Russian re-invasion of Chechnya (or however you want to frame it) affect things in both Afghanistan and Iraq? While I know there are connections between various groups, I've never seen a strong connection between Al Queda and anything in Chechnya. If I'm mistaken, please enlighten.

Bunnypants and his henchmen must have studied the other Chechnya invasions for lessons in chutzpah. Both Yeltsin and Putin haven't thought twice of coming down hard on this province whenever it rears its nationalist head.

Again, how does this connect to other events? I'm curious for observations.

Cheers!

[VolcanoJen]

6. Well, I didn't really draw the comparison, but it's an excellent question.

It's just... well, if terrorists have succeeded in assassinating a president just prior to elections in Chechnya, it doesn't bode well for the "global war on terror."

There is likely no connection to our war(s) in the Middle East; it's just a global feeling of unease; one that might require Putin to overreact. Events these days are so ripe, so vivid, aren't they? We are standing in the middle of history.

The world is in a precarious position right now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Actually there are connections

before the whole mess in Iraq started Chechnya was the favorite
place for Al Qaida to send troops to get some grit agaisnt the Russians, who they defeated in Afghanistan.

It is very connected

[VolcanoJen]

8. Thank you, nadinbrzenzinski.

I am not well-versed on the Chechen connection; thank you for all the information you have provided! Please, if you have any more information or insight, I'm very interested.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Read

the Rise of Sacred Terror... great book and intro into what we face.

Will tell you much of this mess and where it is going... this is
just starting

[KharmaTrain]

9. Jen, I Enjoy Your Insight...Now The Fundamental ?

Who is a terrorist? I've been asking that endlessly. I don't see a uniform (other than the mustache <sarcasm>). No real centralized command and control (DU seems to have a better network going). No official office or spokesperson other than occasional bin Laden and other tapes that seem just to do one of those "in your face, sucka" acts.

Most important...what would be construed as a "victory" in this war? Bin Laden's head? A large mushroom cloud across the Middle East? The Rapture? 50 cents a gallon gas? I'm so confused!

Cheers!

[VolcanoJen]

11. The more I hear from the Jesus-freak in the White House...

... I'm thinking "Rapture."

:puke:

[CJCRANE]

13. It's strange but

I think maybe Al-Qaida have more clearly defined goals - which seems to be an end to occupation in muslim lands.

Although as you imply the original Al-Qaida (which was only a few thousand people at most) doesn't really exist anymore. It's more a sort of meme now that attracts sympathizers.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Ok listen to bush

and think OBL... think they are fundamentally mirror images of each other, and you will have an idea

Also the way AQ works does NOT require centralized command and control as they are using CLASSIC cell organization technqiques.

Members of a cell may go to ground for a decade or more until they receive activation orders, or a certain point or condition is reached.

Heads of cells may now heads of cells at their own level, but even that is doubtful, This way if you catch one, you will not be able to catch more, and members of a cell may not even know each other until they are activated. It worked for the IRA for many decades.

As to OBL's role right now it is fully symbolic, andn his dead will not stop AQ... some experts have even theorized that if he goes away, it will not stop this.

This is NOT traditional seventies and eighties terror, this is a wholde different animal. Again for an intro, read The Age of Sacred Terror, that is just a good introduction.

And yes, we had a chance to slow them down in Afthanistan, but Bush decided to go after Iraq because they tried to kill his daddy, this will be the strategic mistake of the century.

[KharmaTrain]

15. I Think More Myth Than Reality

I think we're both of agreement that Al Queda was more a concept than an actual enterprise. It appeared, from my readings, to be more a clearing house/conduit of various individuals and groups (along the financial networks set up to spread U.S. weapons and money to the Mujahadeen in the 80s) than with any specific agenda.

Yes, this is different than the groups we saw in the 70's and 80's who were far more nationalistic than what we see now...which is more "racially" (I hate that term) or religiously/culturally-based. I'm also certain many lessons learned by these groups have been passed on and refined, but again, for individual purposes, not on some large global conspiracy.

Which leads to the * perspective of this thing...or the perception these crooks want us to believe. The right wing thrives on a boogie man and bin Laden and Islam fit the bill Communism and Castro/Breshnev/Name Your Communist Dictator here...as the great threat to our national surival. Of course it's a ruse to raid the treasury and let the military-industrial complex run wild.

Terror is used as a weapon on the American people by their own "government" as it's the fear of the unknown that works far greater than the fear of the known.

[VolcanoJen]

5. CNN Confirms President and General Killed in Blast

ON EDIT: There have been conflicting reports, but CNN-International just confirmed that President Kadyrov and General Baranov were indeed killed in the blast. The information came from the Interior Ministry.

Most recent update, from Xinuha:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-05/09/content_1459062.htm

Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov and a top Russian general were killed in a powerful blast in a stadium in the republic's capital Grozny on Sunday.

The blast occurred underneath a VIP-seating area in the Dynamo stadium during a ceremony marking Russia's 59th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Kadyrov and General Valery Baranov, head of the Joint Army Command of the North Caucasus, were killed at the scene of the blast. They died after the explosion tore through the stadium where the president was attending a Victory Day celebration.

[VolcanoJen]

10. Reports are still conflicting about the president's death...

.. although, I have to say, I saw the video on CNN, and he looked awfully dead to me. It was truly horrible footage.

I imagine we'll know the truth tomorrow. As nadinbrzezinski pointed out in another thread, Putin is KGB, after all...

Interfax Agency - Kadyrov is Dead:
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aqbecOt85SSg&refer=europe

Reuters - Not So Fast:
http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=861789