The Los Angeles Times runs a sobering report on the spread of Islamic rebellion in the Caucasus region. Ham—handed tactics in suppressing Chechnya are blamed by writer Kim Murphy.

Moscow's disorganized and violent attempts to suppress Caucasian Muslim insurgents have swept up thousands of innocent believers in the process. The brutal arrests, police raids and mosque closures appear to be alienating a population that until now had largely sympathized with Russia's attempts to quash terrorist attacks and bring peace to the region....

" People turn to Sharia law because the authorities who are supposed to represent the law breed lawlessness. People have very little hope of getting any justice from the secular authorities, so they turn to the muftis for support," said Kazimagomed, 38, an unemployed construction worker who declared "it will be the end of me" if his last name were published.

There is always reason to suspect other agendas may be at work in reporting like this. But there is also considerable logic to it.

Thomas Lifson  10 24 05