Earth shattered: film at 11:00

In a startling development, sources reveal that Arabs may be linked to Chechen terrorists insurgents rebels!

Ten of Ossetia hostage-takers come from Arab states - FSB

BESLAN. Sept 3 (Interfax) - Ten of the 20 hostage-takers who set off a major crisis in North Ossetia on Wednesday and were killed by Russian troops on Friday came from Arab countries, a Federal Security Service (FSB) official said.

I know, I know - it's hard to get your head around. You may want to catch your breath before proceeding, because as it happens we might have known something about that already.

But surely, if there was any reason to suspect that these might be murderous islamist butchers seeking to impose tyranny, rather than disgruntled victims of oppression, the world's faithful news services would report them as such? Let's see just how far back suggestions of islamist terror might go -

Apr. 19, 2004

MOSCOW - Russian troops have killed four Chechen rebels linked to guerrilla leader Shamil Basayev near Chechnya this weekend, capping a week-long crackdown on separatists in the turbulent Caucasus region. The leader of Arab fighters in Muslim Chechnya, Saudi-born Abu al-Waleed al-Ghamdi with close links to Basayev, was among those killed there in recent days, his brother said on Sunday. More than 10 rebels, including Wahhabi militants, were killed in planned "special operations" by Russian troops in the mountainous region last week, news agencies reported. Wahhabism is a strict Islamic sect dominant in Saudi Arabia.

Feb. 19, 2004

MOSCOW - Russia has evidence that this month's terrorist attack on the Moscow metro was organised by Arab mercenary Abu al-Valid who is believed to have succeeded the notorious Khattab, eliminated by special services in 2002. According to intelligence reports, Al-Valid was paid $4.5 million for the attack and has already left Chechnya for one of the Persian Gulf states.

February 21, 2003

The U.S. State Department added three Chechen rebel groups to its list of designated foreign terrorist organizations. The designation makes it illegal under U.S. law to provide material support to the organization, and requires banks to freeze its assets. Members of the group can be denied U.S. visas.

Dec. 29, 2002

Military intelligence, he says, recently learned that Abu Al Walid was ordering a series of terrorists attacks on Grozny. The attacks are being financed by several Arab countries, which were not named.

Oct. 27, 2002

The Russian authorities in Chechnya have said that a substantial number of the female rebels were of Middle Eastern origin.

This echoes President Vladimir Putin's recent suggestion that there were Arabs and Afghans among the hostage-takers.

The Russian security service later said that it had intercepted intensive exchanges over mobile telephones between the hostage-takers and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

Feb. 9, 2001

Russia-s military intelligence officers have found videotapes showing the details of criminal acts perpetrated Chechen rebels and foreign mercenaries. Most of the rebels on the tapes come from Arab countries, officials at the Federal Security Service told Interfax on Friday. Rebels are known to make such video accounts for their bosses who guide and finance their operations in Chechnya and also provide a propaganda cover, the officials are quoted as saying. The tapes are now being thoroughly examined. "Special equipment allows one to determine with absolute precision the date and time of filming and make accurate portraits of all participants in terrorist acts," they added.

June 29, 2000

The Russian special forces destroyed a large rebel group, comprising mainly Arab mercenaries, during a reconnaissance operation in South Chechnya on Wednesday, the Interfax news agency reported.
[...]
Sixty militants, 55 of whom were identified as Arab mercenaries, were killed by federal air strikes. Now a mopping-up action is underway in the combat area, the center was quoted as saying.

Oct. 26, 1999

"Today, we have good positions, good weapons, and we can fight successfully," said Khattab, an Arab warlord commanding Chechen fighters, at a rebel stronghold just west of Gudermes. Khattab, who goes only by his first name, helped lead the militant incursions into Dagestan earlier this year.

Ok, my ADD is kicking in, but I think I have my answer: long enough for Reuters et. al to know better. The next time I see or hear a straight-faced report of Chechen millitants, insurgents, rebels, or -- my new favorite -- mercenaries directing death and misery at civilians, we may find out just how quickly I can chisel the word "terrorist" into a brick facade.