Word: putin
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...since the early successes of the war came in the absence of much Chechen resistance. That allowed Moscow to project the idea of a "clean" war in which Russian casualties are kept to a minimum and the militants are routed by cannon and air power. "But in the end, Putin faces the same problems as his predecessors in the last war," says Meier. "You can pursue the strategy of bombing and shelling from a distance only so far. It hasn't worked in Grozny." It's now clear that the capital can't be seized without Russia accepting heavy casualties...
...Domestic political support for the war effort is crucial to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's efforts to use Chechnya as a stepping-stone to the presidency in the March election. Right now, it's holding steady. "Polls reflect that Russians still strongly support the war despite rising concern over setbacks," says Meier...
...front where Putin will have to act most carefully is the war in Chechnya. A shuffle last week in the top Russian combat generals suggests panic over the need for a hasty resolution of the conflict before the March elections. Unfortunately, high civilian death tolls and unannounced deaths of Russian soldiers have not been perceived as impediments to this goal. In his vigilant efforts to secure his office, Putin is staking his reputation on a misguided war. We hope that Putin will demonstrate enough vision as a leader to sow the beginnings of justice and cooperation instead of personally reaping...
...Fierce fighting for control of the towns of Argun and Shali continued Monday even as Russian troops appeared to be regrouping and rearming for a renewed assault on Grozny. Russian public confidence in a quick and clean victory, which translated into an almost unassailable lead for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the race for president, also appears to have been shaken by reports of heavy casualties and military operations gone wrong...
...deadline that Putin set for himself on Grozny has already passed, and now it's threatening to turn into a familiar quagmire," says TIME Moscow correspondent Andrew Meier. "While the Russian public is still overwhelmingly in favor of the war, the challenge for Putin is how to maintain the appearance that things are going well in the absence of a real victory on the ground." And the events of the weekend highlighted the limits of Russian control despite its territorial gains in the first months of the war. The Chechens for the most part retreated in the face of Russian...