Russia's uphill climb against terror

After Monday's brutal suicide bombings in the subway stations of Moscow shocked Russia and the world, the nation was rocked by two more suicide bombings in Kizlyar, Dagestan, on Wednesday. At least 12 were killed and 23 wounded in the Wednesday attacks; the victims were mostly members of Russia's security forces.Two more people were killed and a third was injured in an explosion overnight Thursday in Caucasus region of Dagestan.

Though Russia has stepped up its battle against the North Caucasus terrorist group in recent years - this year, national security authorities intensified anti-terror operations in the northern region - this week's blasts indicate that Russia has not achieved a decisive victory against terrorists.

Ever since Vladimir Putin became president in 2000, terrorist attacks have been rampant. In October 2002, terrorists took 850 hostages in the House of Culture of the State Ball-Bearing Plant Number 1 in Moscow. In September 2004, the Beslan school hostage crisis shattered the country. In August 2006, blasts hit a market in a suburb of Moscow and killed 10. Last year, a train traveling between Moscow and Saint Petersburg was bombed. The fighting in Russia between the terrorists and authorities has never stopped.