Cory W

Interesting seeing our policy. Doesn't make sense.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europ...n.us/index.html

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that mid-level officials in the U.S. government were undermining his country's war on terrorism by supporting Chechen separatists, whom he compared to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Putin's charge, made in a meeting with a group of western foreign policy experts, came just days after hundreds of people, mostly children, died in the bloody end to the Beslan siege.

Putin also defended his government's decision to storm the school and said the hostage holders had begun shooting children out of boredom.

His comments did not suggest the final raid was triggered by the shooting of children.

In the wide-ranging meeting which lasted almost four hours, Putin said he likes President Bush, calling him a friendly, decent, predictable person.

But Putin said each time Russia complained to the Bush administration about meetings held between U.S. officials and Chechen separatist representatives, the U.S. response has been "we'll get back to you" or "we reserve the right to talk with anyone we want."

Putin blamed what he called a "Cold War mentality" on the part of some U.S. officials, but likened their demands that Russia negotiate with the Chechen separatists to the U.S. talking to al Qaeda.

These are not "freedom fighters," Putin said. "Would you talk with Osama Bin Laden?" he asked.

Putin said the Chechen separatists are trying to ignite ethnic tensions in the former Soviet Union and it could have severe repercussions.

"Osama Bin Laden attacked the United States saying he was doing it because of policies in the Middle East," Putin said. "Do you call him a freedom fighter?"

Putin's comments came a few weeks after the U.S. granted asylum to Ilias Akhmadov, the "foreign minister" of the Chechen separatist movement.

The Russian president also justified the rescue operation in Beslan, conceding that it took time to mobilize the operation.

He said Russian special forces stormed the school knowing they themselves were likely to be killed.

In one dramatic moment, Putin said Russian security forces overheard a disturbing walkie-talkie conversation between the terrorists:

"What are you doing? Why? I hear some noise. What's going on? I'm just in the middle of shooting some children."

"They were bored," Putin said. "So they shot children."

Putin said investigators determined the hostage takers included 10 fighters from "Arab" countries, along with others from the former Soviet Union and one person from North Ossetia where the hostage crisis unfolded.

Putin said the terrorists' goal was to ignite conflict between two local ethnic groups, the Ingush and the Ossetians.

In other comments, Putin said Russia would take its own approach to democratic reform.

"We'll do this at our own pace," he said. Democracy can mean different things in different countries, he said.

"In Russia, democracy is who shouts the loudest," he said. "In the U.S., it's who has the most money."

Putin declared two days of mourning for those who died in Beslan.
Asked about the U.S. presidential race, Putin was complimentary of President George W. Bush, saying he likes him. He is a friendly, decent, predictable person, but "it is not about personalities," Putin said.

He said polls in Russia show 7 percent support for Bush, and 25 percent for Democratic challenger John Kerry.

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jacked

US doesn't negotiate with terrorists but now they are telling russia to negotiate with them what the gay is goin on in the world today?

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directfiesta

USA : STFU !

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I know that Asspimple is stoopid ... As he says, it is a FACT !

But I can't figure out how he can breathe or type , at the same time ....

dolla

has the US every been in something like this? i mean there is waco, but those people pretty much went in there on their own at first, not even sure if they wanted to leave

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Giorgio_Xo

Chechnya is about national self-determination not idealogy or religion. All freedom fighters are branded as terrorists. Ask George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, etc., etc. They were all branded as terrorists.

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dready

Because Chechens are fighting for independance.. it should be brought to the barganing table so they can end the bloodshed.

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Doctor Dre

Should US invite Osama to the white house ?

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Lev

U.S. always contradicts itself, it's becoming alarming as if some dumb apes are running the country....oh wait...

Serge Litehead

sounds almost like US doesnt want Russia to find Osama in Chechnia

most hardcore criminals hide on chechen land, would not be surprised if osama is there too.

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zzgundamnzz

We should just stay out of the worlds affairs and stop playing world police and focus on restoring our economy

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Project-Shadow

That would be nice.. I'd get more £ for my $

s9ann0

why like a CIA boys reunion ?invite saddam and daddy bush, shoot off some shotguns and ak's on the white house lawn yea why not

Webby

WTF has it got to do with the US?

Can someone tell the US Admin that they don't fucking matter and their opinions are totally fucking irrelevant?

I can see Russia telling Bush to quit his "terrorist" wars and get together with Osama and "negotiate" .. Friday OK?

<IMX>

whoa...stop making sense...gfy is a "no-spin zone" (read this as "non-sense" zone.)

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designersex

Bloody ignorant people... Chechens HAD independence from 1996 to 1999. Three years of independence and what they did with???? Did you fucking knew that in 3 years Chechnya became a fucking black hole used for all sort of illegal activities and sabotage against Russia and Russians? Did you hear that chechens were kidnapping people (kids, women, men) and taking them into Chechnya then sending torture tapes to the hostages relatives in Russia demanding for ransom money? Did you know that Chechnya was used by Al Quaida to smuggle heroin into Russia (cargo planes fully loaded with heroine were landing in Chechnya on a daily basis).
But then its not even that that bothered to the Russians, it was just too much when terrorist broke into neighboring Russian Dagestan and killed civilians there. Did you knew that? Did you hear about aprament building blown by the chechens?