The jihad aganst trees (weekly review)

By Vadim Borshchev, special to Prague Watchdog

The militant rhetoric and triumphant statements of State Duma deputy Adam Delimkhanov last week sounded not so much unconvincing as rather hysterical. It is hard for a person whom the Dubai police suspect as Sulim Yamadayev ‘s assassin to escape the accusation of his own free will. From now on the man in the street will interpret any action of his as a desire to clear his name and gain favour.

Many considered that Ramzan Kadyrov had appointed his favourite to lead the hunt for the mujahedin with only one purpose in view – to protect him from criminal proceedings. This obvious vested interest greatly detracts from the value of their claimed achievements. However, the man in the street is not inclined to trust anyone or anything – that is his nature.

It must be said, however, that on this occasion there are serious grounds for scepticism. The volume of propaganda that accompanied the "last and decisive battle" with the mujahedin, who according to Ramzan Kadyrov number no more than 70, was so enormous that it seemed as if the grim warriors led by Delimkhanov were preparing to do battle with the hordes of Tamerlane. On Friday June 5 the grand spectacle took place on a large meadow near the Ingush village of Datta. Its heroes were Delimkhanov himself and other famous commanders, and a band of ordinary fighters, each of whom seemed to be carrying the entire contents of a gun store counter. The guests of honour at this display of “summer lightning” on the border of Chechnya and Ingushetia were the Chechen mullahs.

Adam Delimkhanov spared no colours to paint the picture of the shameful flight of Caucasus Emirate leader Dokka Umarov, who managed to make a dash for it at the last moment. Had it not been for the Emir’s four bodyguards who remained to cover his retreat and paid for it with their lives, the insurgent leader would not have escaped just retribution. Delimkhanov said that on being wounded Umarov had "crept away like a chicken". But nemesis would overtake him, as officers of the law enforcement agencies were on his heels. The officers, it should be noted, were at this point still weighed down under a stock of weaponry that looked as though it were meant to last them for many long years.

Having delivered his report on this military success, Delimkhanov gave the floor to the "respected Islamic scholars," as the television presenter who was covering the event called the men in black skullcaps. Authoritative religious figures began to persuade those gathered on the meadow that Wahhabism was the greatest evil and perdition for the honest Chechens, as though Delimkhanov’s subordinates were convinced of the contrary. The sermon was apparently successful, because all the participants in the event took part in a ritual dance, or zikr, around the improvised table that had been set up in the field, and seemed united by a common view.

The victory celebrations concluded with some shooting in the forest. First Adam Delimkhanov blasted the trees with an automatic mounted grenade launcher, and then his example was followed by the Islamic scholars, each of whom sent several grenades right into the thick of the vegetation with unfaltering hand. The trees can hardly have expected that the teachers of religious faith would make them shooting targets, but such is the logic of war. If nature harbours bandits it becomes their accomplice, and is therefore not entitled to Allah’s protection.

And so, according to Grozny’s assurances, since the beginning of the special operation which is now into its third week 22 members of the illegal armed formations have been killed. If we accept the total number of mujahedin as 70, this means that Delimkhanov has managed to destroy about one-third of the Caucasus Emirate’s army. Not since the early days of the second Chechen campaign have the mujahedin experienced such a crushing defeat. One must assume that the end of the war is not far off.

Little importance may be attached to the assertions of local residents who say that no large-scale fighting has taken place in the vicinity of the village of Datta and Muzhichi in recent days, but only some low-level exchanges of fire on the outskirts. It is also possible to disregard the rebuttal published on the Caucasus Emirate websites which says that Umarov is alive and well and all his bodyguards intact. The world must believe the reports of Grozny Television. The Islamic scholars who so fearlessly launched their grenades at Ingush trees are the best proof of the desire of all Chechen society to eradicate the Wahhabi heresy. In a single operation with the military, those who are responsible for the souls of people and trees have risen to fight and win. Though trees, it is said, possess no souls.

 Photo: sibnovosti.ru.

(Translation by DM)