# Inappropriate thoughts re: the Russian hostage situation **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 26, 2002, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-thoughts-re-the-russian-hostage-situation/134008 "2002-10-26T18:35:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-thoughts-re-the-russian-hostage-situation/134008/21 "2002-10-28T12:57:16Z")
If the gas used _was_ BZ, its ingredients are probably not going to be news to anyone - the stuff’s been around since at least the Sixties. On the other hand, the doctors who are treating the victims _need_ to know what it was, in order to treat them effectively. Last news I heard, there were still 45 people in serious condition. These people do not need to die just to protect a “secret” that’s not worth keeping. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-thoughts-re-the-russian-hostage-situation/134008/22 "2002-10-28T21:10:17Z")
Well, even regular hospital anasthesia gas has known side effects of vomiting, dizziness, etc., and has to be given in carefully controlled doses which are constantly being adjusted by an M.D., and an easily be lethal if the dosages aren’t right (or sometimes even if they are). So even if the gas in itself isn’t necessarily toxic, it could quite easily be lethal. However, given that the Russians are refusing to inform even treating physicians of the nature of the gas, I’m assuming that it’s something classified, probably designed for military use. One Russian independent news website ([regions.ru](http://regions.ru)) even suggested it had been developed int he U.S., and passed along by visiting FBI personnel to their Russian colleagues. All in all, a nasty business to gas civilians and have so many of them die. ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-thoughts-re-the-russian-hostage-situation/134008/23 "2002-10-28T21:30:08Z")
The Russians handled it magnificently. That was the first hostage-rescue on so large of a scale. Shooting the terrorists in the head was a valid option, because if one bomb goes off, it is likely to let the other bombers know to detonate and detroy the building. As an aside, BZ was first used by the US in the Vietnam war. ---
**Author:** ![SaxFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SaxFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaxFace)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-thoughts-re-the-russian-hostage-situation/134008/24 "2002-10-28T21:48:05Z")
As a Latvian-American (Latvia was another country illegally invaded and occupied by Soviet Russia), I am repulsed by the behavior of the Russians. Russia gassed her own people because of “don’t mess with us” pride. It’s vulgar, disgusting and barbaric. I can’t even read about this without wanting to vomit. ---
**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-thoughts-re-the-russian-hostage-situation/134008/25 "2002-10-29T01:09:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WSLer \* > \*\* > > At least 118 of the hostages have died, which is a fairly large number, so I think that blows your theory into teeny tiny bits. \*\* Relax, **WSLer** , it wasn’t my theory. I was posting it for entertainment value, since I have very few of the facts myself. And dont you know that a good conspiracy theory can explain away _any_ pesky facts? 😉 mischievous [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-thoughts-re-the-russian-hostage-situation/134008.md?page=1)