Caucasus becomes a new hotbed of extremism

[bemildred]

Increasingly extremist forms of jihadism are apparently not limited to the Middle East but are spreading globally. The jihadist trend in the Chechen resistance has become a concern not just for Russians but for the United States, as indicated by the invitation of several muftis from the North Caucasus for an official visit to the US.

North Caucasus extremism as part of a global jihadist network can provide a common interest between the US and Russia, despite the increasing chill in Russian-US relations. In fact, it can provide common ground for cooperation among most of the countries of Middle East, which are seen as mortal enemies by increasingly radicalized jihadis.

The split between jihadis and nationalists and the continuous radicalization of the jihadis can be traced to the first Chechen war (1994-96) during the late Boris Yeltsin's tenure as president of Russia. It has become sharper recently, as seen on North Caucasian, mostly Chechen, Internet sites, especially some views on the Taliban state, recently praised by North Caucasian jihadis.

For some North Caucasus radicals the Taliban were not radical enough. One author noted that, despite formidable forces, the Taliban regime collapsed easily under US attack. The debacle was because they did not separate themselves completely from non-Islamic practices and ideas. The author wrote under an assumed name on a website sympathetic to the Chechen resistance. <1>

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/II06Ag01.html

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. So when groups like the TSA and DHS do racial profiling...

They will routinely stop and harass Caucasians? That will be a first.