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| Russia |
| Russia forced to rethink US ties post-Beslan |
| 2004-09-07 |
| Already coined as Russia's September 11 by various Russian pundits and editorials, the tragic slaughter of hundreds of innocent people in a middle school in Beslan has the potential to trigger a major tremor in the foreign policy charted by President Vladimir Putin, perhaps even as far as heralding a new chapter in US-Russia relations, much to the chagrin of the so-called Eurasianists around Putin who have for a long time been advising him to steer clear of the US's "war on terrorism". In his first post-Beslan interview, Putin, in a tone reminiscent of President George W Bush's post-September 11 behavior, has declared Russia to be in a "war" with enemies that his defense minister, Sergei Ivanov, has branded as "unseen" and "borderless". Cognitively then, the mass killings in Russia, including the victims of downed Russian airplanes and Moscow subway commuters, have seemingly spurred a politico-ideological turn around vis-a-vis the US, viewed with suspicion by the Kremlin for exploiting the September 11 tragedies for geopolitical gains at Russia's doorsteps in Central Asia and elsewhere in the Middle East, prompting Russian policy-makers to rethink their cynical gaze at the US war on global terrorism, eg, the same Ivanov has been on record for making paranoid statements about a post September 11 "dense ring of military and intelligence gathering installations belonging to the US". In the light of the severity of the Chechen-led terrorist attacks, reportedly with participation by members of al-Qaeda, Ivanov and other like-minded people around Putin are likely more apt to make similar statements about the threat of Islamist terrorism. Does this mean that we are about to witness a foreign policy "re-orientation" in Russia featuring Moscow's new willingness to join Washington's war on global terrorism and to make the foreign policy adjustments deemed necessary for such an alliance? While we must await the passage of time to furnish the answer, the current milieu in Russia, wrought with a governmental crisis in combating terrorism, is clearly pregnant with such a possibility. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #7 OHhh...and we're suppose to forget about the fact that the Russians hampered our push into Iraq, by providing jammers to our JDAM bombs to the Iraqi side; and night vision goggles to the enemy also!! What about the trinary positioning by RUSSIA, France, and Germany in the United Nations against us, from the start?! Yes, as I always say, "what goes around, comes around: including you...Mr. Putin! |
| Posted by: smn 2004-09-07 11:39:39 PM |
| #6 Putin is at a crossroads, and he must decide his course of action soon. The Chechen terrorists are stepping up their campaign. They see Russia as weak and helpless. 1. The govt is corrupt and inefficient, and probably has sympathizers and 5 column people in it that have to be rooted out soon. 2. The military is corrupt and demoralized. Lots of work here too. 3. Russia has been keeping company with nasty countries. They are trying to have it both ways. You cannot be palzy-walzy with The Chicoms and Iran. They are liars and thieves and will smile and make nice conversation while they work the knife into your back. 4. Putin is trying to go it alone. We have to work together to make it happen. Putin needs to create and implement a new paradigm in the way his government works and meets challenges and threats. His task is the equivalent of open heart surgery on a marathon runner while he is running. But if he is going to be around, he better start crackin'. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-09-07 10:47:01 PM |
| #5 The problem is out own State Dept has a history of criticisng Russia over the Chechens. This is what had Vlad pissed. About time we change our position on Chechnya and the so-called "rebels", and give Russian carte-blanche. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-09-07 10:25:13 PM |
| #4 #2-I don't think it's pride-it's intellectual snobbery. I have seen it many times in the classroom-they "know" that they know how to do "x" better than Americans (or any other non-Slav, for that matter). And this is coming from someone who likes Russians very much (overall). As far as our condescending-it's non-existent, until the moment the Russians pick up the Euro banner of "the root causes of terrorism, we have to understand why, we need to talk it over" gobbledy gook--in that case, you would be right. |
| Posted by: jules 187 2004-09-07 5:02:46 PM |
| #3 be nice to see an anti terror act between America and Russia and hell why not Israel and Britain, Australia too, time for the world to really start fighting this Together - lets hope so eh... |
| Posted by: Shep UK 2004-09-07 4:49:32 PM |
| #2 Unfortunately, the Russians have a certain pride that makes it hard to admit that they need help, that they can't go it alone. They also have viewed the U.S. as the enemy for several generations now. It's tough to go to the enemy to ask for help. I think the U.S. also contributes to the problem by being somewhat condesending about Russia's methods of dealing with the problem of terrorism. Different cultures, different methods of thought. It's going to be tough job to bridge the gap. |
| Posted by: Old Fogey 2004-09-07 2:44:40 PM |
| #1 The quicker "Vlad" realizes we have more in common with one-another than either of us with the Eurpoeans, or anyone in the midEast, save Israel, the quicker we can put on a united front, and sent the millions of thugs that need to be sent to the lower regions. |
| Posted by: BigEd 2004-09-07 12:41:40 PM |