Posted on 09/04/2004 8:16:02 AM PDT by rang1995
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Saturday, September 4, 2004 · Last updated 7:51 a.m. PT
Putin promises tougher response to terror
By JUDITH INGRAM ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin promised a tougher response to terrorism Saturday, saying in a surprising admission of weakness that the Soviet Union's collapse had left the country unable to react to attacks. "Weak people are beaten," he warned.
The former KGB spy said in a televised address to the nation that terrorists are waging an "all-out war" against Russia. He said he would enact reforms to make security services more effective, tighten border controls and establish a new system to control the situation in the war-torn Caucasus.
Earlier, Putin sealed the borders of North Ossetia, the republic where more than 340 people were killed in a hostage-taking at a school that turned violent Friday. The hostage-taking was carried out by militants seeking independence for Chechnya, where Russian troops have been battling separatists on and off for more than a decade.
Putin vowed never to give in to international terrorists, and that in order to fight them, Russians could not continue living in a "carefree" way.
He blamed police corruption and porous borders for the failure to stop attacks and called for mobilizing the nation before what he called the "common danger" of terrorism.
"In general, we need to admit that we did not show an understanding of the complexities and dangers of the processes occurring in our own country and in the world," he said.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the nation was weakened and unable to respond effectively to terrorism, Putin said.
"We stopped giving enough attention to questions of defense and security, and allowed corruption to infect our judicial and law enforcement sphere," he said.
"Moreover, our country - which used to have the strongest defense system of its external borders - instantly became unprotected from either the West or the East."
"In any case, we couldn't adequately react ... We showed weakness, and weak people are beaten," he said.
Putin made a lightning pre-dawn visit to Beslan, the town where the school is located and announced the closing of the region's borders while authorities search for the attackers' accomplices. Later Saturday, he decreed two days of mourning on Monday and Tuesday.
"I ask you to remember those who died at the hands of terrorists in recent days," he said in his address.
He said measures would be taken to strengthen Russia's unity, create a more effective crisis management system, establish a new system to control the situation in the Caucasus, and overhaul the law enforcement organs.
"We are obliged to create a much more effective security system and to demand action from our law enforcement organs that would be adequate to the level and scale of the new threats," he said.
Putin said some foes wanted to tear off parts of Russia, and others were helping them.
"They help, supposing that Russia - as one of the greatest nuclear powers - still poses a threat to them. So they have to get rid of that threat."
Are you nuts? You are basically implying that the Russian government is delusional. It's simply beyond absurd to even suggest that the United States has an aim in breaking up the Russian federation and creating even more failed states and war. To say that Putin is alluding to the United States in that statement would mean that the Russians think that we do and in so thinking that must have some sort of evidence leading to that conclusion... evidence that does not exist. Yes. we have troops staged in Eastern Europe and Central Asia when we we never had in the past, but we're there because we're fighting the same group of people that Russia is... if anything , the conclusion Russia is going to draw is to join the United States in all-out war against Islamists.
Can Putin get some of that lightning into Russia's security forces?
I think he could use these incidents to turn Russia into a tyrannical police state again.
Iran is the heart of the Terror. If he would stop playing footsie with the Ayatollahs and work with us to get them ousted, we could take the next step in winning this War.
And yet...did you notice that there seemed to be some reasonably well armed Russian civilians at the scene, helping the police and military? And, the police and military accepted the help?
Now it may be that I am in error on this; but, I do believe you'll find it to be true. And if that's the case, Russia may be closer to a practical embrace of the spirit of our Second Amendment than we have exhibited lately.
Russian citizens are allowed to have weapons. They are expected to do so, as they have long memories of the civilian heroes who resisted the the Nazis.
However, certain municipalities do restrict and even prohibit the possession of sidearms.
By the way, there is NO NATIONAL GUN REGISTRATION or LICENSING in Russia. Municipalities may do this, but it is not required by any national law that I am aware of.
After all, who else could he possibly mean?
And, by the way, the evidence is irrefutable.
Our State Department is still fighting the cold war.
Just a week ago, the American State Department issued a statement in support of the Chechen terrorists' claim, agreeing with them that last week's elections in Chechnya were not "fair" or even "valid".
And this was AFTER the dual airplane bombings!!!!!!
Putin has every right to be fuming at the Americans right now.
The State Department of the United States has the blood of those innocent children in Beslan ON THEIR HANDS!!!
Red
The Russians aren't as "nice" as we are. It'll be a bloodbath.
Yes, and undoubtedly Russia just got a taste of how terribly wrong the UN mentality can be.
Red
My mother's entire family - aunts, uncles, cousins - was wiped out by the Russians in 1945. They were simple peasants, without any political afiliation. We know this from letters received in the late '30's. But they were Germans. Pffffft!
The Russian mindset hasn't changed one iota in their history.
Nike.
Dr. Rice has one primary objective when she takes over as Secretary of State.
Fire 3,000 red diaper babies immediately.
Red
President Bush... it's the HOT-LINE!!! Putin wants to talk to you. Bush: Yes,Mr. Putin... what do you want???
Putin: LET'S ROLL!!!
Bush: DA.
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