Well, glad to hear that is now over. The Russians stormed the place this morning (6 am, their time) when the Chechens started killing hostages as they had promised to do. Situation and news reports are still confused but the operation seems to have gone well, although we will have to wait and see.

Lepus Rex:

"Well, first, Troll, I think you're confusing "nation" with "nation-state." The word "nation" is commony used to describe communities of people, united by various characteristics, regardless of whether they have a state or not. Don't worry, common mistake; I still love you.

Second, the Chechens declared their independence from Russia more than ten years ago, and still have an active, independent (if innefective) government headed by Aslan Maskhadov.

Third, even by the Russians, the Chechens are considered a nationality, with their own semi-autonomous Republic within Russia."

From your three paragraphs above it would seem by your reasoning that although Troll may have been confusing "nation" with "nation-state" (personally I do not think he was), both yourself and the Chechens do confuse the two and the Russians never have.

It's all about oil of course and time is running out for the Chechens, because as soon as the pipeline through Turkey is completed Azeri oil does not have to go through the northern pipeline which passes through Russia and Georgia.