Many times after that, I would call her to see how things
were in Russia's forgotten war zone. Natasha, as we called her, would always
quickly reply: "They abduct people by the dozens, they burn their houses, they
torture guerrillas' relatives, kick people out of their apartments -- something
has to be done, something has to be done to help them." Who are they? I would ask her. "Come over, I will tell you."

Well, on Tuesday, they
came for Natasha. At 8:30 that morning, as she walked out of her house, she was
dragged into an unmarked white Lada, screaming vainly for help. Just like one
of the stories she so doggedly pursued. And of course, we know how this...

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Many times after that, I would call her to see how things
were in Russia's forgotten war zone. Natasha, as we called her, would always
quickly reply: "They abduct people by the dozens, they burn their houses, they
torture guerrillas' relatives, kick people out of their apartments -- something
has to be done, something has to be done to help them." Who are they? I would ask her. "Come over, I will tell you."

Well, on Tuesday, they
came for Natasha. At 8:30 that morning, as she walked out of her house, she was
dragged into an unmarked white Lada, screaming vainly for help. Just like one
of the stories she so doggedly pursued. And of course, we know how this one
ends: They found her body later that day, in nearby Ingushetia, riddled with
bullets. This, unfortunately, was the Chechnya that she knew all too well, the
place of thuggery, violence, and corruption that most of the rest of the world
has been content to forget. Just recently Moscow declared that the war there is
over. Well, it may not be war, but it remains as lawless as a war zone.
Abductions and killings by them are
rising.