Putin offers radical surgery for Chechen rebels

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | November 13 2002 | Elaine Sciolino

[Hoboken]

Rebels in the breakaway province of Chechnya are a bunch of international terrorists who believe that all non-Muslims deserve to die, Russia's President Vladimir Putin told a summit meeting of the 15-nation European Union.

"They talk about the need to kill all non-Muslims, all cross-bearers," Mr Putin told a news conference with EU leaders.

"If you are Christian, your life is threatened. If you reject your religion and become an atheist you are also in danger. If you will decide to become Muslim, even this will not save you because traditional Islam is from their perspective hostile to their purposes and goals."

Mr Putin, who was speaking in Russian through interpreters, added: "If you want to become an Islamic radical and if you'd like to get your circumcision, please come to Moscow. We are a multiconfessional, multi-ethnic nation. Please come. You are welcome and everything and everyone is tolerated in Moscow."

But in another translation, as heard on NTV in Moscow and translated by The New York Times, his words carried more menace.

If you want to become a complete Islamic radical," he said, "and are ready to undergo circumcision, then I invite you to Moscow. We're a multi-denominational country. We have specialists in this question as well. I will recommend that he carry out the operation in such a way that after it nothing else will grow."

He said Western civilisation faced a mortal threat from Muslim terrorists, who planned to create a "worldwide caliphate".

The West should face up to the reality that Chechen terrorists were religious extremists in league with al-Qaeda, rather than a separatist movement seeking a breakaway republic. If the West failed to deal with the Chechen terrorist threat, the Moscow theatre siege and the Bali resort attack would be repeated "all over the world".

There are deep divisions between the EU and Russia over Chechnya. The EU has warned Mr Putin it will not give Russia carte blanche in its fight against terrorism, particularly after reports that fragmentation bombs were being used against civilians in Chechnya.

The Prime Minister of Denmark, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who holds the EU presidency, told Danish radio before Mr Putin's arrival: "We of course support Russia in the fight against terrorism. But I also want to say that it is not a long-term solution to the Chechnya problem to launch a military action and bomb the country to pieces."

The New York Times; Telegraph, London

[Hoboken]

So, the EU is censoring Putin's "hate speech". Anyone else find this unnerving? You know it's getting weird when you have to rely on the NYT for an accurate account.

[Pern]

"But I also want to say that it is not a long-term solution to the Chechnya problem to launch a military action and bomb the country to pieces."

I think it's a great solution. A mad dog must be put down. And Muslims are mad dogs.

It seems that the hostage crisis in Moscow really opened Putin's eyes. Let's hope they stay opened.

[americanbychoice]

We need to align ourselves with Russia, china Australia, Japan and England. Create a "World defense operation. Get out of Nato and let thes Eurowhiners spend the money they don't have to defend themselves. I for one am tired of our money to defend those ungrateful, and conceived moral supremacist, anti american socialists/Communists.

[samtheman]

The Chechen radicals attacking Russia are every bit as evil as the islamofacists attacking the USA.

The difference is in the response. Russians do not fight moslem extremists very well.

[Miss Marple]

I don't think the Islamic radicals quite get how tough Mr. Putin is. I rather like Vlad, myself.

[Guillermo]

He said Western civilisation faced a mortal threat from Muslim terrorists, who planned to create a "worldwide caliphate".

HELLO, CALLING ALL WORLD LEADERS!!

People like to rag Putin, but he seems to be the ONLY one who knows what's going on. You can't even get "right wing" radio show hosts to recognize this.

[Robe]

Interesting use of the word "Caliphate"....
According to the American Hertitage College Dictionary....
Caliphate from the root word Caliph "A male leader of Islamic polity,
(Ar. Halifab, successor (to Mohammad)..
Is he calling for a world organization to REPLACE ISLAM?

[skeeter]

Wouldn't it be nice if our own leaders could speak as honestly.

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Is he calling for a world organization to REPLACE ISLAM?

No, he's warning about radical Islam's desire to establish a world government under Muslim rule.

[11B3]

"We need to align ourselves with Russia, china Australia, Japan and England. Create a "World defense operation. Get out of Nato and let thes Eurowhiners spend the money they don't have to defend themselves. I for one am tired of our money to defend those ungrateful, and conceived moral supremacist, anti american socialists/Communists."

Nice idea, but why the hell did you put CHINA in there? They are the world's leading COMMUNIST nation, and they are the ones calling the shots for Al Qaida and Islam. Essentially, they are the real enemy. Once we're done with Iraq and Saudi Arabia, we'd better be getting on to China to finish this.

[americanbychoice]

I don't see them as dangerous anymore. When countries become very profitable due to capitalism, changes occur that were previously unimaginable. They have become one of the strongest economic forces in the world today. They won't ever risk losing it.

[dead]

Putin knows the score.

[americanbychoice]

The Europussies still have a lot of respect for russia. In the Frankfurter Zeitung a headline read: " Mr Putin only has to sneeze and the Europeans will fall over". They really are weak.

[Robe]

Islam is not a religion, it is a ideology based on world domination masquerading as a religion.
No other religion requires total submission or death.
Islam does.!

ISLAM IS TERRORISM BY IT"S VERY NATURE

[Fiddlstix]

Bump

[TheSpottedOwl]

Wow, I'm liking Putin more and more every day.

There was a discussion here a few months ago about Russia's vast oil fields. Hmmm, what do you suppose would happen if we quit buying Middle East oil, and bought Russian oil instead???? That would be killing two birds with one stone. Russia would get the extra revenue she desperately needs, and the Middle East would dry up and blow away without firing a shot :)