Russia's Caucasus region seething with Islamic violence

Ramzan Kadyrov seems to know how to deal with terrorists, but he has many critics. Terrorist apologists will of course not like his tactics and that tells me he is doing something right. Terror needs to be fought with terror, fire with fire. Ramzan Kadyrov knows how to mete out both. From an article in Sunday Herald,Scotland: Critics say Kadyrov, who is openly vying to expand his power base into other regions, is part of the problem, not the solution. Rights groups have long alleged he uses torture, murder and kidnapping to enforce his own version of law and order in Chechnya. He denies that, but makes no secret of his belief that force is the only way to rule the Caucasus. The object of a self-made cult of personality, Kadyrov is widely seen as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's point man. "The impunity and omnipotence of Ramzan Kadyrov depends on the support of Putin," veteran human rights activist Ludmila Alexeyeva said recently. "As long as Putin supports him, nobody will touch a hair on Kadyrov's head. Even if he kills us all." Powerful elements within the Russian security apparatus have long feared that the Kremlin has created a monster in Kadyrov who may one day slip the leash. In recent months, a growing list of Kadyrov's enemies and opponents, both inside and outside Russia, have been murdered. Critics say the Chechen strongman has almost finished consolidating his power base inside Chechnya and suspect he wants to set himself up as the de facto ruler of the entire North Caucasus. Russia's islamist menace .