Stinger Press
Sochi, Russia- Tensions are high at the offices of Russian president Vladimir Putin. All across the country, there is widespread celebration but also a fear that has been raised in recent months by fear of a confrontation with terrorism. As Russia prepares for the worst, the world looks on as the country enters its name in to the history books. The troubles come from the Caucuses, a region once occupied by the former Soviets. In the absence of a stable government and economy, the region opened the door to several extremist organizations, some of which have a firm foothold in Al-Qaeda ridden countries. The recently founded Chechen Republic has been the ground zero for these terror organizations. Chechnya is located close to the major city of Volgograd, in the southernmost tip of the country. Other cities like the capital Moscow have seen metro bombings in recent months. It is now up to the government to tackle any threats they see as posing a threat to these Olympic Winter Games.
Anticipation and Anxiety on the Road to Sochi
Going back as far as the Cold war, the Soviet’s possessed many territories outside of their own borders. One of those territories is known as the Caucuses. Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the region lacked both a stable economy and government. The vacancy was filled by nationalists; however nationalism and national security proved to be two very difficult concepts. Capitalizing on the newly coined Chechen Republic, Islamist factions led by a vast network of terrorists closed in for the kill. Ibn al-Khattab was a prominent terrorist who wanted to lead the charge in their own jihad. Jihad is a holy mission put out by the massive organization Al-Qaeda. This group in particular is unique, as it falls in to the two categories that are used to classify terrorist cells; a network and a hierarchy. It was in 1996 Jihad was declared, and several armed terrorists entered the country with force taking a school hostage within the first week and then killing the three hundred and twenty five students.
Over the years, several high ranking or infamous leaders of the organization have made pilgrimage to this new expanse of territory. A man by the name of Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, who is infamously known as being the mastermind of the terror attacks conducted on September 11th, passed through the region in 1997. He was searching for a feasible joint operations command post, in which all the hijackers of 9/11 would meet to plan out the operation.
Other known operatives caught entering Chechnya is a well known number two in the organization, and respected Egyptian doctor Ayman al-Zawahiri. In the wake of the death of the leader of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, this number two man was quickly brought up to fill the absence. He was found try to enter the Chechen Republic under an assumed name, and fake papers.
What is there to fear?
Al-Qaeda as a whole has shown many Arab countries, as well as the rest of the world, what they are perfectly capable of doing and why they do it. Russian authorities, alongside many other countries each day sift through thousands of chatter in hopes of uncovering a massive threat to our national security. There is without a doubt a large target on these Olympic Games. It is not certain what may happen, however it will be our jobs to support the idea we are safe. We simply must take a leap of faith, and confront the threat with our passion to compete.