09-08-2004, 01:17 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Junkie
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Putin plans pre-emptive strikes on terrorists
Quote:
Putin plans pre-emptive strikes on terrorists
Moscow's threat to launch preemptive strikes on terror bases around the world following the school massacre in southern Russia drew support from London and Washington today but sparked misgivings in several other capitals.
"We will take steps to liquidate terror bases in any region" in the world, Russian Chief of Staff General Yury Baluyevsky told reporters at a meeting with US General James Jones, NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe.
Baluyevsky, quoted by Interfax news agency, noted that the doctrine of preventive military action against terror targets had been spelled out publicly before and said such steps were only an "extreme measure" that did not include use of nuclear force.
In London, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said today that Russia's stance was "understandable" and within international law.
"I think the reaction is an understandable one," said Straw. "The United Nations charter does give the right of self-defence and the UN itself has accepted that an imminent or likely threat of terrorism certainly entitles any state to take appropriate action."
He added that he did not think that Russian President Vladimir Putin was thinking "about launching any immediate attack".
A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington did not oppose Russia's stance.
"Every country has the right to defend itself" the official said, requesting anonymity because the United States has not yet carved out an official public position on the newly announced policy.
In the past, however, Washington has cautioned Moscow against undertaking military action in areas like Georgia's Pankisi Gorge. Russia says the remote region is a haven for Chechen separatist fighters it has branded terrorists.
In Paris, the French foreign ministry offered a more guarded reaction.
"For us, this is a question that should be debated within the European framework, the Group of Eight and obviously at the United Nations," foreign ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous told reporters.
"The fight against terrorism is a priority for the entire international community," the spokesman added.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Recep Erdogan meanwhile took issue with Moscow's position, saying no country "no matter how powerful" can combat terrorism "with a one-sided approach, saying 'I will act and I will clear up the matter'."
"Terrorism ... is such a phenomenon that no one can say with certainty who should be struck, when and how," Erdogan said.
Instead, he suggested joint international action, with exchanges of intelligence and opinion, to efficiently combat terror.
Meanwhile, the European Commission downplayed Baluyevsky's comments.
A spokeswoman for EU external relations commissioner Emma Udwin said she had not seen the comments, but added: "I would pay more attention if it had come from Putin."
"We all know that terrorism has to be tackled in a variety of means, but probably such statements are not the first instrument that will bring results," she said when asked about the remarks.
At least 336 civilians and rescue and security workers, along with 31 hostage-takers, died in the three-day siege last week in the North Ossetia city of Beslan bordering Chechnya .
In parliament earlier today, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said a harrowing video inside the besieged Beslan school, made by the hostage-takers themselves, and aired on Russian television, laid bare their "inhumanity".
In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States, Britain actively backed a new US policy of preemptive strikes by joining the United States in launching wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
AFP
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Interesting difference in US/UK reaction and that of the European powers (does the UK even count as European any more?! :-))
I'm in two minds about this. I can see it as US/UK giving the Russians carte blanche to strike, without the pesky nuisance of international investigation or analysis... kind of like what Israel does in the Occupied Terroritories.
But... I can understand the Russian desire for vengence. It's no different from Reagan trying to assassinate Qaddafi back in the 80's.
Mr Mephisto |
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