Latest Thailand Blog Stories- Does Thailand Want Democracy? February 9, 2012
- Video: Pravit Rojanaphruk Interviews Robert Amsterdam February 5, 2012
- Abhisit and Free Speech: Never the Twain Shall Meet February 5, 2012
- Thailand Gets Improved Marks on Human Rights February 1, 2012
- RA’s Thailand News Blast – Jan 31, 2012 January 31, 2012
- Latest Czech Blog Stories
- Když státníci šílí February 10, 2012
- Jízda začíná February 10, 2012
- Když vyšetřovatelé prchají od velké korupční kauzy February 10, 2012
- Přímo!!! February 9, 2012
- Vyvlastnit vlastnictví February 9, 2012
- Latest CFP Blog Stories
- Franz Sedelmayer: Leading the Fight Against Sovereign Immunity February 1, 2012
- Zimbabwe – The Pillar of Education and Fostering a Patriotism That Never Seemed to Waver January 25, 2012
- Quality Assurance: Brazil Probes Chinese Mobile Phone Imports January 11, 2012
- “Unquantifiable Risk” for Anglo in Chile January 4, 2012
- Shell Faces New Risks in Nigeria January 4, 2012
Subscribe by Email
3 Comments
Russia did leave Chechnya, for instance, back in 1996. The Chechens took the opportunity to impose Sharia, with floggings, amputations, the whole nine yards.The Chechens then decided to export their lunacy to Dagestan, in August and September 1999.So what Goble is saying is that the Russians should subject themselves to a repeat of that experience.Boy, Goble must hate Russians a lot! No wonder the Russian government dosen’t listen to him.
If the Chechnyans wanted independence, Sharia or no Sharia, they should have had it. So should the Dagestanians. Believe me, the only reason why the Chechnyans could ‘export’ the product is that the Dagestanians had similar desires — and they shared the same memories of Russian domination. As you know, Russia was pretty bad to Caucasus peoples (floggings, amputations, the whole nine yards) when she conquered them — remember Lomonosov’s poetry? The memory of Russian cruelty has survived among those people, and fuels their desire for independence.I don’t like Sharia, but invading the people who want it and forcing them to abide by our customs is not going to solve the problem; it will only make them more determined in their fight (as Russia now begins to see). To conquer hearts and minds, other methods must be used; or else, the brothers and sisters of every Chechen killed by Moscow will become so many new rebels.And that is what Goble is saying: if you want to conquer hearts and minds, don’t use brute force. It won’t work. But, as he said, anything other than brute force won’t please the Russian élites, which don’t want to give any signs of weakness to the Russian people (who already expects ‘strong’ reactions from their leaders).So: it’s going to be ugly. It didn’t have to be, but it will. Poor Russia.
The ~300,000 Russians who lived in Chechnya before 1996 weren’t given much choice, except to flee. And the people of Dagestan didn’t want the export product, which is why the Chechens had to export it forcibly.While in Dagestan the Chechens just ran into some Russians who had a bigger force…And Russian methods from Lomonosov’s time don’t justify Sharia methods now. Back then, the British Navy flogged until you could see ribs and backbone.