In the aftermath of the Moscow theater tragedy, many in Russia are questioning if the lives of the 117 Russian hostages - and their 50 captors - could have been spared through negotiations or a less drastic 'rescue' effort.
The rebels had come to the building heavily armed and strapped with explosives. Most importantly, they wanted their voices heard by the Russian people and the international community.
In dramatic real-time Internet releases by the besieged theater's management on the theater website, a heart-wrenching plea for dialogue was read: "The terrorists promise to release hostaged [sic] children if a public meeting is arranged in Red Square. Please, support the hostages! The meeting begins at noon, Moscow time."
But Putin was not listening.
The St. Petersburg Times debunks the government claim that that the storming of the theater was necessitated after the killing of two hostages on Saturday. The paper reported that the decision to storm had been taken prior to the killings: "Evidence suggests the special forces planned the operation as early as Friday night."
The rebels had come to the building heavily armed and strapped with explosives. Most importantly, they wanted their voices heard by the Russian people and the international community.
In dramatic real-time Internet releases by the besieged theater's management on the theater website, a heart-wrenching plea for dialogue was read: "The terrorists promise to release hostaged [sic] children if a public meeting is arranged in Red Square. Please, support the hostages! The meeting begins at noon, Moscow time."
But Putin was not listening.
The St. Petersburg Times debunks the government claim that that the storming of the theater was necessitated after the killing of two hostages on Saturday. The paper reported that the decision to storm had been taken prior to the killings: "Evidence suggests the special forces planned the operation as early as Friday night."