Never heard of Dagestan until now but apparently it’s a Jew hating hell hole.
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) October 30, 2023
I don’t think representative Crenshaw should publicly confess to this. More hawkish on Russia than most of his colleagues, he’s in the habit of dismissing those who object to his views as “fools” and “stupid.”
But, aren’t people who inveigh on grave matters of statecraft obliged to know something about those they consider our enemies? Dagestan is well known precisely because it’s been at the center of so much historical conflict between Russia and Persia. It’s been the site of post-Soviet rebellion, when Chechens joined in to try to create an independent state out of what has been one of the Federations recognized and semi-autonomous republics.
I’m not saying every hawk should know the peculiar details about the legislature in Bashkortostan. But some rough recognition and idea about who the Dagestanis or the Tuvan people might be, would give you a guide not just to understanding Russia, but its strengths and pain points.