This picture from Russia captures some of the agony and suffering. Some vulgar Middle East sites and publications have blamed the Russian forces for the carnage. I know that Russian forces can (and should) be blamed for past and current atrocities. I am sure that they also killed some of the hostages during the "rescue operation." But the primary blame should be squarely placed on the shoulders of the fanatical kooks who took the hostages in the first place, and I do not care who they are and what cause they represent.