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"\nShamil Basayev \n\nOne of Russia&amp;apos;s top security chiefs announced today that Shamil Basayev, the leader of the Chechen resistance, was killed by Russian Special Forces last night.\n\nPutin is calling Baseyev&amp;apos;s killing &amp;quot;just retaliation,&amp;quot; in part for attacks he helped organize that include the 2004 school siege in Beslan, which killed 331 &amp;#x2014;mostly children.\n\nIt&amp;apos;s good news, but until proof is shown we&amp;apos;ll remain dubious &amp;#x2014;Baseyev&amp;apos;s death has been reported before. (And as much as the ineptitude of Russian troops helped make the three-day standoff in Beslan a bloodbath, it was indeed Basayev and his ilk that took the school in the first place.)\n\nMore on being dubious: The good news comes at a good time...Just before this weekend&amp;apos;s G-8 conference in St. Petersburg.\n\nWe&amp;apos;ll see how the story unfolds, but early lines from Moscow are consistent with Putin&amp;apos;s larger strategy: Show the world Russia is tough, show them Russia is better at security than anyone. (And justify the terrifying brutality of the Chechen conflict.)\n\nHow will Bush react? We can&amp;apos;t wait to see if &amp;#x2014;locking eyes with GWB over caviar in St. Pete &amp;#x2014;Putin points out that Osama is still alive...\n\nUPDATE: Time has an informed and nuanced take on the news, writing in part:\n\nAs long as Moscow sees Islamic extremists under every bush, local police will produce as many as Moscow likes."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/putin-gets-his-osama-20060710>