The Dirty War

by Anna Politkovskaya

The Chechen War was supposed to be over in 1996 after the first Yeltsin campaign, but in the summer of 1999, the new Putin government decided, in their own words, to 'do the job properly'. Before all the bodies of those who had died in the first campaign had been located or identified, many more thousands would be slaughtered in another round of fighting.

The first account to be written by a Russian woman, A Dirty War is an edgy...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1860468977
• ISBN13: 9781860468971
• Release Date: November 2004
• Publisher: Harvill Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

eye opener

I was looking for any book from Politkovskaya, whom was assassinated in her doorsteps. Journalist looking for the truth in the chechen war. Grate book.

Good overview

I have to disagree to some degree with those who say this is a *completely* biased piece. I also have suspicions that those who trash this work have not read it in it's entirety, if at all. Anna is certainly an advocate for the Chechen people, but she also attempts to show, albeit in small bits, the human side of Russian troops. Her writing is vivid, impassioned, but sometimes choppy. It can be difficult to read sometimes, but that may be the translation. I'm not sure how the September 11th attacks should obscure any opinions in favor of Chechen independence. Those views expressed appear to be shallow, with a blind, "follow the leader" approach. This shouldn't be an issue where you chant, "go team!"--Why not consider both sides? If you go to www.hrw.org there are plenty accounts of Russian abuse of Chechens, to be fair there is also abuse from Chechen fighters on civilians. This is a dirty war because it is corrupt on all sides. You can also find numerous other articles, not just from Politkovskaya, that echo the same problems with corruption, human rights abuses, etc. Steven Lee Myers of the New York Times is also a good source. Why is it so unfathomable that soldiers might commit abuses, be xenophobic, rape, etc. What about Elza Kungayeva's rapist? He was a high ranking colonel. Even though her rape was ommitted from her autopsy report and he was never actually convicted of rape, he still murdered her. Is that okay? Is that fair or right? Is that not terrorism at it's finest? To form a solid opinion you really need to consider all sides; you need to look at the root problems, it isn't a simple issue.---And it's obvious that it cannot be resolved through military measures alone. There really has to be some considerate discussion. (Putin has blasted that idea so I don't think it will happen.) And you cannot put blinders up and think that abuse is impossible, or even okay. It's too easy to reduce the Chechens to a nation of terrorists.

Excellent reporting, Strong translation

Politkovskaya has provided us an incredible insight into both sides of the ugliest conflict, both politically and moralistically, since the Second World War. Her ability to speak not only with the Russian OMON troops, the Russian military, and the Chechen "freedom fighters," as well as with the families of the dead from each side, provides the necessary balance and authority to make her book as intriguing as the people themselves. Politkovskaya's political leanings are apparent within the first two chapters, but should not shade the information she provides. Crowfoot's translation, which on occasion slips from lyrical to Boris-and-Natasha-speak, appears a bit rushed; considering the threats made on Politkovskaya after her October suggestion that Russians were responsible for the deaths of high-ranking Putin advisors sent to the region to investigate federal operations there, a rush can be understood and appreciated. This complaint is, in my opinion, the only distraction from an otherwise outstanding piece of work.Buy this book, and hope for another very soon!

A great book based on first hand experience

The book gives insight into the attrocities carried out in Chechnya by the Russian armed forces and also by some the Chechen rebels. It is a must-read for anyone who thinks that we live in a peaceful modern world, and that attrocitites carried out by great nations like Russia do not happen. It should serve as a serious reminder to the fact that Russia still denies foreign powers insight to their "internal affairs", and that the discrimination of Muslim minorities througout Central Asia is very much alive.Especially nowadays, as Russia seeks to ally with the USA against Muslim aggressors, this book carries much weight.As somebody noted: "If Tony Blair seeks to eliminate terrorism in Northern Ireland, he does not bomb Dublin to bits and pieces. So why does Putin obliterate Grozny in his fight against terrorists, killing tens and tens of thousands in his path?" That is certainly worth a thought.

Thought Provoking

I noticed that one reader feels this book is nothing but a bunch of lies...especially in the wake of September 11th. Unless you have been to Chechnya since September 11th (or even before) then I don't think you are qualified to write an accurate account of what's happening in that region. I was in Chechnya during the a few weeks after September 11th. I have seen firsthand the destruction. I have also witnessed the widespread suffering of the refugee civilian population in Ingushetia.With that said, I admire Anna for her quest for the truth. Anna's bias for the Chechen population is obvious from the start. But, this book does contain accounts from the Russian point of view. Finally, Anna goes to great lengths to tell the reader the whole story by addressing the little reported Chechen warlord perspective. Chechnya is a dirty war and all three sides share part of the blame.You may or may not agree with her reporting style or methods...but the book is an accurate representation of the events in Chechnya as they unfolded in the months her book covers. This book was a slow read in some spots but I would still recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about Chechnya.I am looking forward to the next installment.