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Russers chasing Chechen rebels...
The Russian military says it is still pursuing Chechen rebels who fought a fierce battle with Russian forces on Thursday in the southern republic of Ingushetia. "All possible paths they could use have been blocked," said the republic's deputy Interior Minister, Khamatkhan Albakov. That's what they always say. Then they use an impossible path and get away somehow... Russian officers say dozens of rebels died in the clashes near the village of Galashki on Thursday, and helicopters and artillery were in action overnight. "Helicopters located camp fires where the fighters were warming themselves. These were immediately bombed," the Interfax news agency quoted an official as saying. Did they actually count bodies? Or did they count the number of campfires? Russia's NTV television said the rebels had unsuccessfully tried to cross into Chechnya during the night. From Ingushetia, I guess... It is reported that they had previously been hiding in the Pankisi Gorge in northern Georgia, until Georgian forces began an operation to flush them out. "Hi. We're from the Georgian army. Would you guys mind moving on, so the Russers don't come in an conquer us? Thanks." The fix may be in for the Russers to have a free hand with regard to Pankisi and Georgia, but, in common with several recent commenters here, I'm not sure they're capable of doing anything of substance with it. They're supposedly in charge in Ingushetia, yet the Chechens seem to spend a lot of time waltzing in and out of the region and shooting people up and helicopters down. Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2002-09-27 |
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