In the latest manifestation by adherents of the Religion of Peace, Two female homicide bombers blew themselves up on Moscow's subway system as it was jam-packed with rush-hour passengers today, killing at least 38 people and wounding 102.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) head Alexander Bortnikov identified the two perpetrators as being Chechens. In February, Chechen leader Doku Umarov, head of the al-Qaeda linked Caucasus Emirate threatened future attacks, saying in a web posting that "the zone of military operations will be extended to the territory of Russia ... the war is coming to their cities."
Umarov has also claimed 'credit' for the November bombing of the Nevsky Express passenger train that killed 26 people traveling between Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Other Chechen 'operations' have included the attack and hostage taking on the Nord-Ost Moscow theater back in 2003 which took 129 lives (some of whom died as a result of Russian security pumping poison gas into the theater), a dual homicide bomber attack at a rock concert at Tushino Airfield in Moscow that killed 16, the blowing up of of two Russian airliners in 2004 that killed over 90, and of course, the horrendous attack on a school in Beslan that murdered 334, most of them children.
The first explosion took place just before 8 a.m. local time at the Lubyanka station in central Moscow. By an odd coincidence, the station is located just underneath the building that houses the main offices of the FSB.
The second blast,generated by a woman with an explosive vest took place about 40 minutes later, at the Park Kultury station near the Kremlin, killing 13 people.
The FSB thinks the attacks were carried out by the 'Black Widows,' members of the Caucasus Emirate's female suicide bomber cadre.
Russian PM Putin was in Siberia today, but said the "terrorists responsible" for the attacks Monday "will be destroyed."
"We are providing Moscow metro with additional CCTV cameras. Today's events show we should not only continue this work but to make it more effective. Changes in legislation may be necessary."
The Russians are unlikely to respond in force, first because they already have their own political leadership in place in Chechnya and second because they're not ready for the expense and turmoil of a second war in Chechnya.
As ot that, as a fair person, I have to acknowledge that unlike the vast majority of their Muslim brethren, the Chechens have a real and actual grievance against the Russians. Russian terrorism against the Chechens, such as the shelling of the civilian population of the Chechen capital of Grozny and the widespread abuse of Chechen women by Russian troops were horrible crimes, and the Russians bear a great deal of responsibility for paving the way for the Chechen's alliance with al Qaeda and other Islamists.
That in NO WAY excuses any of these crimes, nor does it excuse most of the Muslim world's continuing silence about these atrocities. I hope the Russians buried the remains of the bombers in a nice pigskin.
As always we feel sorry for the innocent loss of life. Evil is evil.But never forget that Russia does not condemn Hamas attacks against Israel and does not list Hamas or Hezballah as terrorist organizations. Neither has Russia ever condemned a terorist attack against Israel or any Jewish organziation. Unless Russia joins those fighting terrorism and stops trying to make headway in the Arab world by cozying up to Arab terrorist supporters,aka, the Arab governements, and our Persian friend in Iran,they are going to continue to get their citizens killed.
ReplyDeleteOn another not so traumatic note: Chag Pesach Sameach.
I agree with you to some extent, IP. But it's important to remember that Russia is, to all intents and purposes a dying nation.
ReplyDeleteRussia's birthrate is plummeting...except in the parts of Russia that are predominantly Islamic. The Islamification of Russia is an established fact.
Russia's overall population is dropping at a rate of 700,000 people a year, mostly because of the short life expectancy - 66.6 years - and low birth rates of ethnic Russians. Abortion is widespread - I've seen estimates that state that up to 70% of pregnancies in non-Muslim Russia are terminated by abortions.
On the other hand, since 1989, Russia's Muslim population has increased by 40 per cent to about 25 million. By 2015, Muslims could make up the majority of Russia's army and they could account for 20% of the population by 2020.
Putin is trying torectify this somewhat, but as of no he obviously has to walk a fine line...or so he feels. In reality, attempting to appease Islamists will not work any better for Russia than for the West.
Like, best wish es for a Kosher and happy Pessah. Chag Pesach Sameach!
All Good Things,
Rob
Tragic morning in Moscow. Here is some graphic video from just after the blast http://bit.ly/8YYp5l
ReplyDeleteThanks Andy..and welcome to Joshua's Army.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Rob
Yes Russia may be a dying country but as you say Putin is trying to address this situation. My bet is he will succeed in rectifying this, however, even if he does not Russia is a dying nation with the most powerful military force the planet has ever known and it has deemed its primary enemy as our country.
ReplyDeleteI don't even think I need to tell you how dangerous for America it would be if Muslims should make up the majority of the Russian army by 2015. This would mean that Islamic terrorists would have effective control of the most powerful and advanced weapons systems on earth.