The Russian musical was in full swing, in a full house in Moscow. A rousing celebration of patriotism, the show was celebrating its first year on the big stage. And suddenly, the hall was full of Chechen rebels, in masks and camouflage, firing automatic weapons and wired to blow up the theater.

Twenty-four hours later, as many as 700 theater-goers are terrified, vulnerable hostages, less than three miles from the Kremlin. And Russian President Vladimir Putin in a hideous bind. Chechnya’s implacable demand for freedom has brought terror to the heart of the Russian capitol. Russia has not been able to crush the Chechen dream. Now President Bush’s global war on terrorism is joined by the Russian nighmare. What is justice here? Up next, On Point: terror as the new lingua franca.

Guests:

Michael Wines, Moscow bureau chief, The New York Times

Anatol Lieven, senior associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of “Chechnya: Tombstone of Russian Power”

Lyoma Usmanov, Chechen refugee

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst and a senior editor at The Atlantic Monthly