Chechnya: Calamity in the Caucasus

Shortly after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union, the recently formed and tenuously stable Russia became embroiled in a new kind of war; the war in Chechnya. With the breakup of the Soviet Union, a number of former Soviet territories made a grab for independence. Some of the states achieved sovereignty with little bloodshed. Others faced the full might of the Russian political and military fist attempting to prevent succession. Such was the case of Chechnya. Gall and de Waal, both journalists having covered Russia and its provinces for many years, have created an excellent work examining the causes, costs and repercussions of the Chechen War. The book does a superb job of providing historical background on the region and people of Chechnya, their long history of independence, and their many battles with Russian authority. The story then moves to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent instability and lack of effectiveness of the new Russian government. Out of this instability and inefficiency emerged a Chechen move towards independence, an act unacceptable to Moscow. The result was a bloody guerrilla war between the Russian military and the Chechen separatists. Both sides suffered innumerable casualties, and the financial cost of the conflict still ravages the region. The authors rely on innumerable materials garnered from media sources and personal interviews with major players, both Soviet and Chechen, from the conflict. The resulting text is both concise and readable, providing an objective look at the war in Chechnya from the eyes of the Russian political and military leaders as well as the guerrillas and Chechen politicos. Chechnya: Calamity in the Caucasus serves as an excellent source for gaining an understanding into the Chechen conflict.

When journalists start to write history--beware. There will be some limitations. Those are apparent here in the method--what was learned by two journalists assigned to Chechnya for a 3 year period, approximately, in the mid-1990s. The book was published in 1998. Despite those method weaknesses, and others pointed out by other reviewers, I recommend this book for a few reasons. It is a harkening back to the time of Yeltsin, whom it seemed the American administrations were very fearful of living without--now we have some history with Mr. Putin. And, we know the epilogue is continued problems with the Chechens, and Islam. In this regard the book is a very readable prologue to what we faced after 9/11, and provides some historical background. It doubt that 1 of 100 Americans could find Chechnya on a map, yet this is part of the world region that will determine the fate of the world. Highly recommended for intelligence and counterintelligence enthusiasts, because you have to learn a new way of thinking to understand this conflict. It isn't the Cold War, and it isn't the Holocaust.

A stunning account of Russia's defeat at the hands of Chechen warriors, which traces the superpower's own incompetence, disorganization, and lack of understanding of it's enemy. A brillient consideration of war strategies and morals, as well as an account of the dissintigration of the Soviet Union

This is a well-researched book. From media reports, the question often asked is Chechnya a "rogue province of Russia or independent state?" You can form you own opinion by reading this book, among others that cover this conflict.There is a lot of general information about the Chechens and their culture in this book. It paints a picture of who these people are. Chechen history and their relationship with Russia has been mired in conflict for centuries. From the author's point of view, the Chechens have been not treated very well by their mammoth neighbor to the north, and constant intrusions upon them has caused them to suffer because of this oppression. The deportations of Chechens to Kazakstan by Stalin are among other things that fuel the conflict today, and the operation and ramifications of their exile were explained in a full chapter. The cultural norms cited in the book are very interesting. Traditions, dances, swords and feuds, and a fervent desire for autonomy. Beheading takes place, with the head of the enemy shown around the town. This book did appear to sympathize with the Chechens. But that's for each individual to decide. A lot of information is given about the internal Chechen and Russian political, diplomatic, and military events and strategies that occurred during and after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The actions of Dudayev and Yeltsin are noted throughout the book.

Gall and De Waal have done an excellent job of presenting the origins of the conflict and the clash of egos which led to the most recent civil war. An excellent analysis of the war from both sides with little sympathy for either of the combatant factions. One can only feel sympathy for those caught in the middle and anger toward the leaders of both sides who refused to accept a compromise before it was too late.