Instagram's, Seagal's and Putin's favorite executioner sends an interesting message to the Muslim world. Many Chechens like the Ottomans are sufis. wsj.com/articles/excom…
I hiked over the mountains in Nov 1999 with the rebels. I left when the Russians surrounded Grozny. It was an extraordinary war restarted when Putin ordered a number of apartment buildings blown up and blamed on the new Chechen govt. He has been in power for 20 years. ©RYP 
The story of Putin's rise has been eclipsed by his most recent acts in Crimea and Ukraine. But when people ask me if Putin could blow up Russians using explosions in basements I point out that he had no problem bombing Russians from the air.
Grozny had thousands of Russians cowering in flats and homes and even selling goods on the streets. It was a fascinating peek into what would happen next in Georgia, Ukraine and now expansion into the Arctic, Africa and Middle East
On another level the Chechen's (who worked inside the Russian intel system) explained how the State apparatus for murder of Russians works. I also interviewed a Russian spy involved in the apt explosions. Putin continues to eliminate all perceived threats.
Dangerous Places contributor and friend Roddy Scott went to Chechnya to do a doc and was shot in the face by the Russians while surrendering, declared a terrorist and then they attempted to sell his body back to his parents. RIP Roddy. thevelvetrocket.com/2015/09/23/rod…
Roddy was always losing his gear, getting kicked out but I would try to keep him funded or help him out. He wanted to focus on victims of shitty wars. He will be missed. Roddy's friends and families created a foundation in his name. roddyscottfoundation.org/our-story/
Russia under Putin continues to use whatever means necessary to project power, inside and outside the state. Trump's fascination with Putin is based on pure ignorance. Putin is pragmatic, brutal and operates without boundaries. He is not our friend. hrw.org/news/2019/12/0…
I understand the diplomatic concept of not being hung up on historic feuds, mass murder, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and looking at new beneficial relationships but there is something deeply troubling about Trump's linkage to Putin. cnn.com/2019/12/19/pol…
I can't figure it out root cause of the whole Trump/Russia thing other than to assume that Trump is fanboying over tiny Vlad or the faux mobster from Queens and his family have a "get out of jail" card when the shit hits the fan. politico.com/magazine/story…
