The Beslan Massacre (56k warning/graphic images warning)

[MG42Maniac]

I heard on the news at the time that the Terrorists let some people ( kids I think) go and for some reason they started gunning them down and the Russians Fired back and it all kicked off from there.

There is a good article on it here

[Cat_Fuzz]

These kids are gonna be screwed for some time, it's digusting that people think kids for hostages is acceptable.

Personally, I think this thread should have a warning, so that people are aware of the imags that are being shown to them, there are , for some people quite distressing.

[Gauntlet]

Problem with Beslan (along with several other Russian catastrophes) is the many different versions of the same story you are served. This was infact one of the main tactics used during the Cold War. Overwhelm the enemy with contradicting stories and versions to create confusion and hide the true story.

But then again, several of the hostages claim that the whole gunfight started with a terrorist bomb going off in the gymnasium, but then again some claims this to be the work of two Russian fired RPGs.

The bottom line is what Polska said. A very tragic situation, but there is probably nothing they could have done to keep the casualities lower.

[Eglaerinion]

Originally Posted by RexRaptor

Ever heard the phrase 'The Ends justifies the Means'? It's cold and logical, but it's true for all cases of 'terrorism'. Alternatively, ever heard the phrase 'One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter'? That applies to each and every act.

Well I like to think that people that slaughter hundreds of innocent children don't deserve to be called freedom fighters, they're sick monsters. Anyone who claims otherwise should have their heads examined.

RIP to the fallen.

[Sleestack]

Its things like this that makes me NOT watch the news. If someones ideology or religion or WTHever makes them 'tick' says its O.K. to do this to children then somewhere along the way something has gone wrong with it & them. I dont CARE why they believe they are right if they do shit like that & am even LESS inclined to hear the reason when I see pics like that.

I would suggest what to do with peeps that do this crap but Ghengas Kanh would even blanch at it so Ill keep my moth shut.

[MkH^]

Originally Posted by Gauntlet

How come? GSG9 and SAS have never had their chances on large scale anti-terror missions like that.

The Iran Embassy Siege with 6 terrorists and ~20 hostages is the closest the SAS comes, and for the GSG-9 would have to be that airplane down in Somalia were they killed four badly prepared terrorists and rescued all ~80 hostages. Both operations were very succesfully conducted, but sadly none of these two actions comes even close to Beslan or Moscow Theatre when it boils down to the scale of the operation.

When talking about special forces, hiccups like accidentally using poisonous gasses against the hostages should not happen. The result of both of these operations was a total failure and on the other case, the most (?) of the casualties were inflicted by the Spetsnaz itself.

[Gauntlet]

Originally Posted by MkH^

When talking about special forces, hiccups like accidentally using poisonous gasses against the hostages should not happen. The result of both of these operations was a total failure and on the other case, the most (?) of the casualties were inflicted by the Spetsnaz itself.

Dont fool yourself. The Spetsnaz operators did not kill ~350 hostages. The terrorists did that with their bombs. Dont mix Beslan with the Moscow Theatre. In Beslan, no poison gas was used to take out the terrorists. Some sources states that some of the released hostages was injected with a strong antidote (to counter the not used gas), which was dangerous to small children. Some casualties were probably inflicted this way, but no way close to the 350'ish number. Besides, these actions were not ordered by the Spetsnaz units from the FSB, but from high-rankers in the MVD.

[Free]

Originally Posted by RexRaptor

Ever heard the phrase 'The Ends justifies the Means'? It's cold and logical, but it's true for all cases of 'terrorism'. Alternatively, ever heard the phrase 'One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter'? That applies to each and every act.

I too think Chchenya should have theyr own state and it should not be puppetized by Russia but childrens... no no no, bad terrorist, bad, you are sleeping in the yard tonight!

[Gen'l Knight]

I remember it all too well also.

I actually sent an e-mail to Putin saying that I was praying for him and the children it touched me so deeply.

In trying to understand the mind of a terrorist I just fail. Maybe I read too many books about knights, honor and chivalry when I was young.

Sure, civilians were bombed in WWII but you can explain it as them being in a war zone and an area that produced weapons or support to a war effort. There would be a goal - someone would surrender.

There really are no goals for terrorists now, are there, outside of maybe just a whole race or countries of people dying, converting or whatever?? And they have no face, no presence nothing that you can point a finger (or missile at) and say "they are here."

American Indians, the Huns, Mongols et al were vicious in their killlings but at least they had a face.

[Free]

Originally Posted by Gen'l Knight

I actually sent an e-mail to Putin saying that I was praying for him and the children it touched me so deeply.

Sorry to make a joke, nothing personal, I just have to make it...

Moscow, 3:11 a.m.
"Sir, terrorists have taken kids as hostages in a school in northern Ossetia!"
"Mmh, what else?"
"We also recived this e-mail."
"For the love of Stalin!"