Understanding Chechnya

Over the last 34 years, I have written and spoken a few times about the human tragedy in North Caucasus. One of my books - Democracy, Politics and Terrorism - America's Quest for Security in the Age of Insecurity - has a chapter on this subject. You can find it here.

Recently, I came across an excellent article by Eric Margolis in the Huffington Post, which he wrote nearly four years ago. But with the Winter Olympics now hosted in Sochi it is worth reading to better understand the region and the crisis in Putin's land. You can read it here.

Margolis advises, "Modern Russia should set the Chechen free." I agree. There is no other way to stop reprisal attacks.

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