Posted on 10/20/2001 6:59:27 AM PDT by Old Lady
LEADERS OF RUSSIA AND CHINA CALL FOR SWITCHING FROM MILITARY OPERATION TO A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN
SHANGHAI (China), October 20, 2001. /RIA Novosti special correspondent/--The leaders of Russia and China have called for going over as soon as possible from the military operation to a political settlement in Afghanistan under the aegis of the United Nations. This was said by Russian presidential press secretary Alexei Gromov who summed up the meeting of Vladimir Putin and Chairman of the PRC Jiang Zemin which took place in Shanghai on October 20.
The leaders of Russia and China opined that "representatives of all basic ethnic groups, who will show readiness to cooperate in the restoration of a peaceful life, should come to power in Kabul." Vladimir Putin and Jiang Zemin devoted a considerable part of their conversation to the fight against terrorism. They believe the international community should actively and solidarily combat this evil, said Alexei Gromov.
The leaders of Russia and China also discussed strategic stability issues and said they would coordinate their actions.
Vladimir Putin and Jiang Zemin highly rated "the rising level of trust in bilateral relations as a whole and also between the leaders of the two countries." They pointed out the existence of "a real strategic partnership on a firm basis" between Russia and China.
The leaders of the two countries noted that in the past year or a year and a half a break-through had taken place in bilateral economic relations. According to Alexei Gromov, at their meeting Vladimir Putin and Jiang Zemin spoke about the programmes in the power industry, transport and other spheres currently being worked out between Russia and China.
I suspect Russia doesn't want the war to expand to Iraq since they have investments there.
The report reads more like agit-prop than legitimate reporting.
Due to pressure from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the United States is likely to wimp out and begin negotiations that leave the Taliban in power.
This political clap trap is a smokescreen and a complete sidestepping of the issue. I agree with whoever said this was agi-prop. Look, we aren't there to build a nation. We are there to destroy an enemy. Russia and China can kiss off. This is none of their business.
The second largest ethnic group is Tadjik, who are Persian-speaking and not Mongols. They have probably lived in Northern Afghanistan as long as the Pashtuns have lived in the south. The Uzbeks (third) are Turkic. The Hazara may be Mongol, but that is uncertain -- they may also be Turkic.
and have about as much right to run Afghanistan as a minority have running the USA.
The Pashtuns are less than 40% of the population, so the Taliban is from a minority ethnic group. Plus, as you point out, they are heavily backed by the "Arabs" from various other countries, who are definitely foreigners.
Russia and China can kiss off. This is none of their business.
Since Afghanistan is in their part of the world, and since the Taliban and AlQueda has been exporting Islamic fundamentalism to their countries, it actually is their business. Plus, it's India's business, given the infiltration of Paki terrorists into Kashmir and other parts of India, and it's Iran's business, given the antipathy of the Taliban and Al Queda towards Shiite muslims.
Might I respectfully disagree? I'd say that a political settlement within Afghanistan would be fully acceptable to President Bush -- after bin Laden and his terrorists are turned over to the US.
Chechnya not only makes for a great training ground for Russia's massive military build-up in Mozdok, it's been a most suitable means for "long-range thinking" strategists to lay a foundation for Russia's being not only against terrorist but, in particularly, Muslim fundies.
This despite the "former Soviet Union's" (and China's) clear and incontrovertible sponsorship, training and encouraging of terrorist cells worldwide for nearly a century.
Pretty cool, actually.
"The nothern alliance are basically descendents of the Mongol tribes and have about as much right to run Afghanistan as a minority have running the USA. How would you feel if a foreign country asked you to cede power to say, Mexican-Americans to the exclusion of all other ethnic factions. "
Should be - which do you want to run the place, the Mongols, who over ran Afghanistan first, or the Muslims who over ran Afghanistan a bit later?
And your comparison should be, which do you want running Texas, the Indians, who lived here first, or the Mexicans who over ran the Indians, or the Texicans who over ran the Mexicans, and joined the Americans?
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