zac21, whether it was the Spetsnaz or KGB which was actually responsible for snipping the dangly bits off the nephew of a hostage taker, then returning them with a list of other family members, was immaterial. It made the point and no other Russian was kidnapped.
Not very nicely, I agree. No doubt Comrade Corbychev would be horrified to learn that his fellow-travellers behaved in such a decisive manner.