True Terror

This hostage taking is a truly terrifying act.

Will terrorists ever consider anything too immoral to fulfill their goals? What drives these people to such cruel measures? It certainly isn't religion in this case, as the likely perpetrators are Chechen rebels. Can independence truly be worth the cost of the lives of children? Humanity stoops ever lower in its struggle to kill itself.

What to do now? Send in their SAS equivalent (Spetznaz?), and risk the lives of innocent children? Give in to their demands, thus sparing the kids, but encouraging the repeat of these attacks in future? Negotiation is obviously unavoidable... but how long before frayed nerves result in lost lives?

All I can say is, I hate these Chechen rebels now, and any sympathy I might have had with their cause has evaporated into disgust. Give in to their demands, I say, let them walk out, let them think they are free, and kill them when they least expect it. It won't solve the long term problem of Chechnya, but it'd sure as hell make me feel better. Bastards.