The Chechen War for Independence

Does anyone want to comment on this situation.

A little background:
-Cherchneya was conquered by Russia in th 1860's or 1850's
-When the Soviet Union broke up Cherchneya pleaded for there independance but it was denied by Russia
-in 1994 a war broke out between Russia and Cherchneya which ended in a stale mate.
-In the time that passed between 1994-2000 The Chechens grew bitter. Almost the entire province had been destroyed many parents lost childeren many wifes lost husbands.
-Many Warlords came to power including Simil Basayev, who hired Arab mercenarys to kill russians.
-In 2000 Chechen terrorists carrying in the flag of Cherchneya with arabic writing on it, seized a moscow theater taking hundreds hostage.
-The Russians poured an expieremental knockout gas into the theater, knocking out the terrorists but killing hundreds of hostages, most of them childeren. The terrorist killed less then 5.
-The Terrorist consisted of about 10 male militia men and 15 women with explosive suicide belts, nicknamed the balck widows, because they were clad in balck and all had lost a husband.
-Samil Basayev was behind this.
-On 9/1/04 Chechens seixe control of a school in the Russian town of North Ossetia. They take nearly 1,300 hostage inside the building.
-The terrorists consit of Chechens, Black widows, Arab mercenarys, and people of the province Ingushentia (alos seeking independence and great allies of the Chechens)
-There are around 700 childeren hostages
-Negotiations go smootly until a blunder by Russian security forces leads into a massive firefight. Over 400 are killed including around 200 childeren. Two Terrorist mange to slip into civilian clothing and escape inluding the leader.
-The Russian Press refuses to call the event terrism.

Links:
100's of related Articles

SO:
-Shold the Chechens recieve independence?
-Is Russia handling this correctly?
-Are the Chechens terrorists or is this justified for what they've suffered?

My opinion: The Chechens should be granted independence. BUT these acts cannot be justified! Terroirsm is not acceptable, it is hurting thier cause.

Cherchneya was not a stable country when they were conquered and have always had an underground military force, even when they pleaded for freedom there were killing Russians. The Russians in return placed troops there and over time many Russians have taken up residence in Cherchneya so Russia needs to maintain control so that they can keep their people safe.