Furthermore, if repeated Russian assertions that the Chechens are tightly linked to al Qaeda are indeed true, then American efforts in Afghanistan have deprived the Chechens of key recruiting, training and supply centers. Although that won't necessarily end the bloodshed in Chechnya, it will give the Russians a better chance of gaining a firm upper hand.

However, there is more to this for the Russians than merely suppressing a rebellious province. The United States has made it abundantly clear that its definition of "terrorism" depends on whom the target is.

For Russia, the Chechens -- or at least the foreigners fighting in Chechnya -- now qualify as "terrorists".

The rebellious Uighers in western China, however, are not given the same classification, much to the fury of Beijing. Washington still considers the Uighers, even those caught alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan, to be freedom fighters. That China has supplied far less support to the United States in fighting terrorism than Russia is certainly a factor.

By backing Washington's anti-terror efforts, Moscow has not only legitimized its Chechen campaign but it has also garnered international respectability, such as invitations for close relations with NATO, better trade links and prospective membership in the World Trade Organization. This puts Russia in the running for everything from foreign investment to infrastructure connections to integration with Europe. That distinction may ultimately prove to be the biggest prize for Moscow.

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