Putin may end up looking better when more facts come out
It is a given that the terrorists were prepared to blow themselves and everybody else in the building to pieces.
Of the over 600 hostages hospitalized for the gas, 338 have already been released, and of the remainder only 27 are in grave condition. A big improvement over 600 dead.
And only two hostages died from gunshot wounds, which given the situation is pretty damn good. Whatever this gas is, maybe a little more work could give antiterrorist forces a pretty effective tool.