Flash Analysis: Reaction To Attacks Could Further Divide Russians

We should not forget who carried on blasts in apartment houses in Russia, with hundreds of victims, that preceded Putin's rise andfixed his popularity as President. In Ryazan at that time the police arrested a group of bombers who turned to be the KGB men. Terror is used by the government of Russia to stay in power. No wonder, in Moscow rumors circulate blaming the KGB (now the FSB) for organizing these blasts. Poor Russians.

Divide RF society further, I doubt it ... Bonaparte's Grande Armée, the Corporal's Wermacht paid in kind, along w/poor Chechnya and its citizens who were the victims of vioelence on both sides, and so will the Emir of the Caucausus! Let's hope the Red Army, the FSB, the GRU, Spetsnaz and Internal Troops (detachments of Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs) work quickly, efficiently ... so we won't have a repeat of the 1st and 2nd Chechen conflicts in Dagestan and Ingushetia. That would put the RF counterterrorsim ops at the mercy of the once again `bogus, hypocritical Russophobes' version of HRW!

Ok, I tried to make a post last night in Russian – did not go through.
I hope the English version will have better luck.
That’s said, Irina, I am deeply disappointed by your “analysis” because it demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge – or understanding, whichever you choose – of the situation in Moscow, Russia, and the United States for that matter.
Just a preview, I am originally, from Bratsk – Russian Siberia.; have about 10 years of experience living in Irkutsk, several years living/working in Moscow, and by now 6 years in America. That said:
1. Moscow has always been, currently is, and will always stay extremely negatively inclined towards everyone, who is not originally from Moscow: regardless of whether they are Russians from province or non-Russians from one of the former Soviet republics (including Caucasus). I lived for three months at a time in Moscow long before the explosions of 1999 and 2002. Every single day I was harassed by a policeman who would ask for a bribe for non-Moscow passport, by my landlord for Siberian accent, by regular people in the street when I would ask for directions.
This year, I was in Moscow in February – just one month before the explosions. Right in front of me on the metro, an old Russian lady was cursing a Kyrgyz guy for nothing, just because. So, Moscow has always been truly and honestly hostile to anyone whose passport does not have a Moscow-resident stamp. I don’t need to remind anyone that it is Moscow that leads Russian metropolitan on the number of race-related crimes for the last 5 years. Nothing is going to change for the worse in Moscow because there is no worse.
2. Moving on to Russia. Russian people historically do not trust – and do not like – Muslims: the religion and numerous aggressive clashes had their effect on the relationships between Orthodox and non-Orthodox. In any given Orthodox church at any given time, the pope would eagerly explain you why Muslims are not really humans but rather a religious and human mishap. I’ve heard those types of speeches in Bratsk, Irkutsk, St. Petersburg churches during Sunday morning prayers. Trust me, with the recent overwhelming obsession with religion in Russia, 90% of Russians heard it as well. And while I – by the mere fact of being an atheist – stay immune to the stupidity of these claims, not many Russians do. And now those stupid sermons are supported by the FSB claims – that’s where it’s going to get worse. Luckily, Muslim population is Russia is still very small with many Muslims hiding their religious beliefs out of fear of social rejection. So, even if the divide gets worse in Russia overall, it will not get much worse... (continued in the next post)

3. As to the mentioned solidarity of the American population after 9/11 – Irina, please, take a look at some studies by American scholars or just look through a couple of books written by Arab-Americans. Here is the reference just as an example.
Bayoumi, M. (2008) How does it feel to be a problem? Being young and Arab in America. New York: Penguin Books.
The key phrase of this book : “After the 9/11, Arab Americans became the new blacks. We are the new problem of the American society. How does it feel – to be a problem?”

Your analysis goes against every single study conducted on the change in the attitude of Caucasian Americans towards Arab Americans. The overall perception – fear and suspicion.
I used to live in a small city in Mid-West America, where you can see leaflets on houses door saying: “Are you sure your neighbors are not involved in anything illegal? Stay alert! Your local Police Department.” No, they don’t say anything or accuse anyone directly. But, ask a common American, who should s/he be alert against and see what they say. So, no, there is no inter racial solidarity enhancement after the 9/11. Today, almost 10 years later, the social divide is less pronounced but everyone of my Arab friends can feel “the looks” when they enter public places.
4. By the way, I am glad that I am rewriting this comment today because yesterday showed that Russian people are willing to come together in the memory of the victims, that Russians are much better than any of the Western-centered analysts expected them to be.
Unfortunately, Russians are also naïve and they will believe everything you tell them if you call it “analysis.”
However, even flash analysis should be thoughtful. Thus, it was extremely disappointing to hear what you had to say, Irina. Seriously, you represent Radio Svoboda – YOU should know better.

P.S. Just for the future reference – “platok” is called either veil or hijab.