Letters from NYC

The Chechen - Al Qaeda connection

UPDATE 9-4-04: If you want actual proof of the Chechen - Al Qaeda connection, please read the Al-Battar/Al Qaeda Manual on Kidnapping

Original posting was at noon - 9-01-04
It seems that the tactics of the Abu Sayyaf – a terrorist group run by Bin Laden’s cousins – trained these Chechen rebels well. They have now attacked the heart of a country and are holding it hostage. This type of action is an Abu Sayyaf’s signature tactic. They have done this a number of times over the last 5 years. It is what they do to hold a country hostage and bring them to their knees. The Philippine authorities, with the assistance of the US military, have never been successful in rescuing or saving all the children that have been taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf. I doubt the Russian government will have better results.

How do I know that the Chechen rebels were trained by Bin Laden's relatives?

Simple, there is precedence of these acts in other countries with Al Qaeda cells. While I was living in the Philippines in 2001 several Chechen Nationals were apprehended in Mindanao (Abu Sayaff city stronghold) and deported for having entered the country illegally. They claimed they were on vacation, when they were apprehended and yet, no hotel had them registered. As soon as I read this I feared the worst, that a new bread of terrorist was being trained. One that had blond hair and blue eyes and was considered a non-threat as they didn't fit Homeland Security's profile.

Today one of my Filipino friends, a director of their Central Bank, who once called me paranoid and laughed at me at a dinner party when we discussed that news item, telephoned this morning to apologize for calling me paranoid and laughing at my assessment. It seems that many there are now worried that the Chechen rebel success will embolden the Abu Sayyaf to expand their current terrorist operations beyond Mindanao and into Manila, where many prestigious schools educate the children of foreigners and the political elite.

Having lived in the Phillipines for 2 years, I saw a few times how similar situations ended. I don't have the heart to follow this story beyond this point.

Stan of Logic & Sanity is providing continuous/live information of Russian news reports, and has provided a layout of the school.

For additional commentrary please visit:
- BigWig at Silflay Hraka
- Rusty at MY PET JAWA
and Allah of Allahpundit.

Basic Info:
“More than 2 dozen guerrillas stormed Middle School No. 1, seizing over 500 children [the school has 900 enrollees], in the town of Beslan in Southern Russia (near Chechnya), just moments after the opening of the new school year… At [present] 4 people were reported killed (including a child) and at least 10 were wounded” - NY Times

UPDATE: 26 HOSTAGEs (WOMEN & BABIES) HAVE BEEN RELEASED OVERNIGHT.

Posted by Michele at September 4, 2004 12:10 PM