Posted on 09/07/2004 11:05:09 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
The United States and Russia clashed yesterday over a way to end the conflict in the breakaway republic of Chechnya, with Washington calling for a political solution and Moscow vowing to crush the separatist movement.
Days after a school siege in the Northern Ossetia region that claimed at least 350 lives, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West -- and the United States in particular -- of having a double standard when dealing with terrorism.
"Why don't you meet Osama bin Laden, invite him to Brussels or to the White House and engage in talks, ask him what he wants and give it to him so he leaves you in peace?" Mr. Putin told foreign reporters in Moscow late Monday.
"You find it possible to set some limitations in your dealings with these [terrorists]? So why should we talk to people who are child killers?" he said, according to one of the translations of his remarks in the British press.
About half of the casualties of last week's attack in the southern town of Beslan were children. Foreign fighters are said to have joined the Chechens in the attack. It came a week after two plane crashes and a Moscow subway station bombing, all of which have been attributed to Chechen terrorists.
Mr. Putin said the West should have "no more questions about our policy in Chechnya," where Russian forces have been fighting the separatists for more than a decade.
The Bush administration strongly condemned the school siege and called it an act of international terrorism.
"There really are no free passes in this struggle, this war," said Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. "No free passes for countries, no free passes for individuals."
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Yeah, im wondering the same thing. who the freak told him to sit down and have tea with the chechens? was it powell, rice, rumsfeld? im with putin. exterminate these roaches.
You've got to like a guy who cuts through the political crap like this.
Some knucklehead in State made the comment that Russia should negotiate with the terrorists. I'd imagine said knucklehead will be seeking alternative employment by this time tomorrow.
The wonderful state dept. shooting their mouths off again about how everyone else should deal with terrorists. Bush should clean out this swamp in his second term.
More likely he'll be promoted!
Yeah diplomacy worked real well at Munich....NOT!
It's what they say to Israel all the time.
But, just maybe it was a dis for their not supporting Iraq? If it was, it was in bad humor.
The only thing to negotiate is how many pounds of pig entrails these scum are to be buried in.
Amen to Putin's statement. Whatever happened to the "Bush Doctrine"? I guess it doesn't apply to Israel, Russia or whomever else Colin Powell doesn't like.
that would normally be true but this is the same Putin who burned us in the UN so he could buddy up with Saddam and assure kickbacks from the UN Oil for Palaces scandal. There are people in DOS that are still ticked and when Putin came whining to complain that now Russia - like France - is now facing terrorists, too, when they did all they could to obstruct our liberation of Iraq, they've told him behind the scenes to go suck an egg. Since Putin is about to be strung up alongside some of the terrorists he's none too happy about that and all I have to say is TOUGH! Like we said, if you're not with us you're with the terrorists and now it might just be time for Putin to pay his due.
Putin is bolstering his flagging domestic political "street cred" by striking out against the USA and our diplomatic weenies are being diplomatic weenies like they're paid to do.
Yes, good point.
The State Department urged all sides to exercise restraint.
Clean up the swamp! I agree, after the election he should start of with a clean slate, no matter the consequences.
I don't blame Putin for what he said. Not at all.
Bush cannot be a great president unless or until he
cracks down on these State Department nitwits.
Nothing of this import goes out the door without Bush's imprimatur. Bet on it.
We're letting Putin look strong and independent and sending the right diplomatic messages. Everybody wins.
Okay, who in the State Department thinks that anyone can negotiate a "political solution" with Islamofascists who murder children in cold blood? Get me the name of that jackwit so we can begin termination of employment proceedings.
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