Russian TV Airs Scenes From Beslan Hostage Nightmare
Hostage Bloodbath Highlights Putin’s Chechen Failure
Russian Rebels Had Precise Plan
It was the first day of school, a day that should have been the stuff of memories for parents and children. No one could have expected that, before the end of the day, they would be in the midst of a hostage crisis that would cost almost 400 innocents their lives.
If one were to think about Beslan dispassionately, it really was the perfect terrorist attack. What better way to attack each and every one of us than by going after our children, whom parents everywhere cherish for their innocence and joy? The question we should all be asking ourselves is why has this not happened until now- and when (and where) will it happen next? Terrorists are like anyone else in that they will steal a good idea from anyone. By virtually any yardstick your average, garden-variety terrorist might use, Beslan was a ringing success. It’s just sad that their definition of success involving taking so many innocent lives.
Given the nature and design of most schools, they are the most insecure and vulnerable of environments. I think of my stepson Eric’s high school, which covers acres and has an innumerable number of entrances. Short of stationing a company of mechanized infantry around Clear Lake HS, there is really no feasible or realistic way to adequately protect the school from any sort of attack. With almost 4000 students, an attack would produce an instantaneous and horrific toll. What’s worse is that it would be much easier than any of us realize.
We can only pray that no parent ever has to suffer the anguish of those in Beslan. We should also pray that our schools are not targeted, because were this to happen, we really have no way to protect out children- and THAT is a truly frightening prospect.
