The pullback is slated to begin in mid-February. But Moscow has very few cards to play in this game. Basically, there are no forces that can defeat the rebels where the Army has failed. Some argue the whole plan is a propaganda gambit, to convince Russians and the world that the war is over in Chechnya and that civil conditions there are normalizing despite the deadly clashes that take place on an almost daily basis. But the decisions were made some time ago, and are dictated by the Kremlin's own political logic rather than external concerns.
Supporters say it is a logical response to the changing character of the conflict.
Of course, Russia is no longer a totalitarian state, but the emphasis on using the FSB in Chechnya suggests these methods will now take the foreground in this struggle. But critics say Mr. Putin is frantically seeking ways to reduce the constant stream of Russian losses and to stem the inexorable erosion of public support for the seemingly endless conflict. Last weekend, separatist forces struck a police post in the heart of Mr. Kadyrov's administrative center, Gudermes, reportedly killing 14 troops. Analysts say Putin could be responding to lobbying from the Army brass, who have been trying to unload responsibility for the conflict. The attitude of the generals is that they've done their part, smashed the rebels' main formations, and now it's time to pass the buck to someone else.