From this point-of-view, terrorism offers the occasion to undermine the state authority and ruin its influence in particular regions.

Olga Oliker points out that the Russians had been engaged into massive urban combat during the 1994-2000 conflicts. Indeed, the Chechens had the necessary means, as stated above, to undergo physically exhausting warfare. At the same time, though, the Oliker points out that the Russian troops also made serious mistakes by firstly underestimating their opponent and secondly by lack of preparedness. More precisely, Oliker points out some mistakes made during the confrontations as "the Russians believed the city was not well defended. They grossly underestimated their enemy and overestimated their own capabilities" (Oliker, 2001). Furthermore, there were clear cut problems of force coordination, among others. In the second intervention, the Russians managed to be more prepared and to have learned from previous mistakes. However, the attitude of the Chechen fighters proved...
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