Breaker Morant? Or Budanov?

For a long time I wished to watch this film – «Breaker» Morant». This film in a singular represents Australia in the «Top 1000 Movies Ever Made» FilmGourmand Internet Movie Database «Golden Thousand» that is why can be considered as the best Australian film of all times.

While watching the film and after it I was not left by sensation that all this history with the Australian lieutenant Harry Morant and his two friends-brother-soldiers reminds something to me. Something from absolutely recent history. Also it was necessary such to happen – in some days after I have watched this remarkable film, in Moscow the former colonel Budanov has been killed. All has risen at once on the places. Really, Morant, as well as Budanov, was at war against local population. Morant, as well as Budanov, is compelled to be at war in the conditions of guerrilla war when any rules of conducting operations are inapplicable. Morant ordered extrajudicially to kill a captured Boer only that has found out on him a jacket of the severely killed friend. And Budanov extrajudicially and not in fight kills the young Chechen girl. Explaining it subsequently that he has suspected either her, or her mother of murder of Russian soldiers and officers from a sniper rifle.

Soon after Jury Budanov’s murder on the Internet there was a story of the cellmate of the ex-colonel – Oleg Margolin to whom the former colonel of the Russian army has told, for what he has killed Elza Kungaeva. According to Budanov, the family of Kungaevs long time was under suspicion. According to informants, the head of the family stored the weapon, and Kungaeva repeatedly left in mountains to insurgents. During one of spot-checks relatives of the girl have run away from the house, and it has been detained and sent on interrogation.

The colonel told that during interrogation he has put a pistol aside. Kungaeva refused to answer questions and said one phrase: «I killed you and I will kill all successively. I know all about you. I know, where is your family. I will find your daughter and I will reel up her guts on the automatic machine» then has rushed to a pistol. During this moment Budanov has seized it by a neck and has broken her back. Then he has run out outside and has told to soldiers: «Take away sniper!» Soldiers have exchanged glances: «Sniper?» Kungaeva at that moment was still alive. Soldiers have taken away it. Later, while body exhumation, traces of digging tool were found out in it, — Margolin has told. Thus he, whether himself has raped her, whether has ordered to rape to the subordinated soldier. And Morant actually orders to his friend to kill the priest only on suspicion in connection with Boer’s guerrillas.

Morant was sentenced to execution. Budanov was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, in 9 years declare the pardon, and after just two years he was overtaken by bullets of the unknown killer. More shortly, a lot of parallels.

But, nevertheless, torments a question: whether it is possible to name the former colonel Budanov modern Morant? And still: whether it is fair, that for cruelty, sometimes excessive, shown by officers and soldiers in the war, these officers and soldiers bear responsibility only? And politicians and the heads of the states launching these wars for the sake of own mercenary or political interests, remain unpunished aside? If there anybody who has some thoughts on this issue?