Mr. Putin’s Choice: “On Monday, Mr. Putin gave Chechnya’s rebels a 72-hour deadline to begin talks on disarmament with his envoy in the region, and he demanded that they “halt all contacts with terrorists and their international organizations.” The statement suggested the possible onset of a major new Russian offensive against the Chechens, which Mr. Putin would insist be accepted on the grounds that some allies of Osama bin Laden allegedly have joined the Chechen resistance.” Washington Post editorial