[monday]

" I think Russia, before Sept1, didn't really understand this. Now she does."

Russia has been trying to make the case that Chechen rebels have been trained and funded and are in effect no different than Al-Quaida for years now. It has been the US state department which has insisted that Chechen rebels were not terrorists and that Russia must negotiate a settlement with them.

[jpsb]

Yes, true, but Russia never really believed that to be true. Or Russia never really believed that Russia was just as much a target as the USA. And the USA never really believed that the terrorists would target Russia for a 911 type event. 901 in some ways was more horrific 911, now both countries understand that both are at risk and both are targets for the most horrid kinds of attacks.

Re, our State Department, hopefully 901 will have opened their eyes to the fact that it is the Christan West (including Russia), not just USA and allies that are under attack. The cold war is over, both the USA and Russia need to get over their old cold war fear of one another. This new war is global and like it or not, the USA and Russia are allies in this fight. Unfortunately Bill Clinton war in Kosovo was a big mistake, Clinton did not recognize that Kosovo was in just just a battle in the war of civilizations. Now it is up to Bush to right that wrong and put together a real alliance of Western powers to fig th the war. If I were Putin, righting the Kosovo wrong would be my price for joining the alliance. Look for Serbia to play a larger role in Kosovo, if you see movement in that direction then we will now a deal has been struck.