If the Russians would've given in to the "terrorist" demands, Doug, Russian troops would be pulling out of Chechnya, and there would be no reason to repeat these actions. All the brutal Russian response has done is 1.Alienate and anger the Russian public, and 2.Show any would-be Chechen "terrorists" that this tactic still works very well to do just that, and to publicise their cause.

So, in response to Troll's question: I would have "given in," too. Of course, I'd like nothing more than to see the Russian empire burn to the ground, so... :)

---Lepus Rex