Posted on 11/22/2002 12:55:11 PM PST by Destro
Putin Questions Terrorism Efforts
By RON FOURNIER
AP White House Correspondent
PUSHKIN, Russia (AP)--Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Bush on Friday the United States should not wage war alone against Iraq, and questioned whether White House allies like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are doing enough to fight terrorism.
``Where has Osama bin Laden taken refuge?'' the Russian said in a joint news conference with Bush at an 18th-century czarist castle.
The sharply worded question, though not a direct criticism of Bush, underscored the frustration felt by U.S. officials since the al-Qaida leader resurfaced after months of silence in an audiotape praising recent terrorist attacks.
Meeting beneath the golden domes of Catherine Palace, Bush cited the recent arrest of al-Qaida's Persian Gulf operations chief, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, as evidence of the U.S.-led coalition's success.
``People who love freedom are one person safer as a result of us finding this guy,'' the president said.
But Putin, while issuing a statement in support of Bush's Iraq policy, followed quickly with severe doubts about the war on terrorism.
``We should not forget about those who finance terrorism,'' Putin said, noting that 15 of the Sept. 11 terrorists were Saudi citizens. ``We should not forget about that.''
Putin also cited reports that bin Laden is hiding in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, wondering aloud whether Pakistan President Musharraf Pervez has done enough to stabilize the area.
``What can happen with armies, arms, weapons that exist in Pakistan, including weapons of mass destruction?'' he said.
``Russia's a friend, not an enemy,'' Bush said at the news conference.
Putin said he did not think the alliance's expansion was necessary, but pledged to maintain warm relations with NATO allies, including the new invitees that were in the Soviet Union's sphere less than a decade ago.
The two leaders released a statement demanding that Iraq comply with the U.N. resolution or face ``severe consequences.''
But Putin urged Bush not to go to war without the consent of the United Nations, a pledge the president has been unwilling to make.
``Diplomats have carried out very difficult and very complex work, and we do believe that we have to stay within the framework of the work being carried out by the United Nations,'' Putin said.
With war on the horizon once again, Russia wants assurances that military action in Iraq won't jeopardize its economic interests with Baghdad or drop oil prices so low that it hurts Moscow's already ailing economy.
Though there was little talk about the issue Friday, Bush has assured Putin he will do what it can on both counts, administration officials said. They said Moscow may be overestimating America's influence in a postwar Iraq.
Putin fears that lifting the U.N. trade sanctions on Iraq after a war could trigger an influx of Western oil interests that would collapse oil prices. The administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Russia has been told the United States cannot control oil markets, but Bush has long supported efforts to keep oil prices stable.
Russia also wants to protect Russian oil contracts in Iraq, and hopes to recover more than $8 billion in debts owed by Iraq.
Bush has assured Putin that Russia will be a major player in building a postwar Iraq, officials said, meaning Moscow would be free to pursue its debts while oil industry competes on an even playing field in Iraq with Western interests.
On another sticky issue, Bush renewed his hope that Putin can find a political way to resolve the fighting in Chechnya, which Russia considers a breakaway province, U.S. officials said. Bush has acknowledged terrorist elements in the Chechnya.
AP-NY-11-22-02 1408EST
(Excerpt) Read more at austin360.com ...
Maybe because Wahhabites in Chechnya are related to Saudies - our friends?
How many WTC bombers came from Iraq?
Lats time I looked at the map, Chechnya was still a part of Russian territory.
Chechnya is still a part of Russia and majority of Chechens live outside of Chechnya (100 000 of them in Moscow).
In spite of what the article claims, I think that there may not have been any major disagreements between Bush and Putin regarding terrorism or Iraq. What Putin said is true, and I believe it is consistent with U.S. policy. This may not be entirely obvious now, with the focus on Iraq, but our attention will turn elsewhere after Iraq. The war will take time, and we cannot do everything simultaneously.
Bush and Putin may even have agreed to help each other out a bit. Putin can say things about Pakistan, for instance, that Bush cannot right now.
There does appear to have been some contentiousness between the two presidents at this meeting, but I think it was primarily on the subject of NATO expansion.
Whilo we are being "patient" and "reasonable", Pakistan is going the way of Iran, and we are leaving Afganistan to the thoroughly corrupt warlords and the paid-off drug pusher Karzai.
As one astute Fox News analyst said, "we don't need Pakistan as a democracy right now". Chilling to American ears perhaps, but true. The U.S. should have 50,000 men in Afganistan and Pakistan, and have total control of their nukes. In addition, the Saudi/American axis of graft must be smashed once and for all, regardless of the political, financial and industrial carnage which would follow.
I loathe the Saudis and see no reason for their continued existance.
:D
Freegards,
Spetz!
There is a BIG difference between old and recent map. Trying to change the recent map is very costly, risky and you might end up supporting Al-Quada instead of Ghandi.
An excellent point.
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