Newspaper Article

Quotes: WHILE IT is both deeply tragic

Robert Bruce Ware. Robert Bruce Ware writes extensively on Dagestan. This appeared in the Los Angeles Times

1999

Overview

The real issues are neither military nor religious. They are economic, and any enduring solution that might bring stability to this strategic region must be economic as well. Though federal troops have an important role to play in the present conflict, Moscow's lopsided military approach is leading it into the trap that was set by the brilliant Chechen insurgent warlord, Shamil Basayev. Basayev knows that while his forces are well-trained, well-armed and admirably financed, they are far too few to achieve a decisive victory in Dagestan. More important, he knows that no one will rule the Dagestani people against their wishes. Contested areas of Dagestan are in rugged geography, inhabited by hot-blooded mountaineers who are equipped with large quantities of arms. They also share a culture of personal valor and a tradition of vendetta. Ultimately, Basayev can win only if he is able to recruit many Dagestanis to his side. The majority of Basayev's fighters are from Dagestan, though others are drawn from a host of Central Asian, Mideastern, Eastern European and African countries. Most of the Dagestanis fighting for Basayev are members of the Islamic fundamentalist sect commonly known as Wahhabis, who are led by Jordanian-born Emir Khattab.

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