Posted on 08/31/2004 3:28:16 AM PDT by naturalman1975
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin today linked the downing last week of two passenger airliners to Al-Qaeda.
He said this proved the presence of organised international terrorism on Russian soil. "The fact that an international terrorist organization linked to al-Qaeda took responsibility for the blowing up of two planes shows once again the link between destructive elements in Chechnya and international terrorism," Mr Putin said in Sochi, Russia.
After talks with French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Mr Putin said Russia would continue to combat separatist forces in Chechnya.
But he said Moscow was prepared "to continue dialogue with any forces interested in a political solution in Chechnya".
The bigger question is "Should Putin change his mind about Iran?"
This ought to be a lesson to the Russians - be careful whom you get into bed with. You run the risk of catching something really nasty.
bump
Welcome to the club.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.