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“For US, anyone fighting Russia is basically not a bad man” – analyst
Published: 01 May, 2010, 15:50
Edited: 28 May, 2010, 13:56
TAGS: Crime, Chechnya, Russia, Politics, Terrorism, USA
US congressman Alcee Hastings is urging the State Department to put Russia’s most-wanted terrorist on the international terror list.
Chechen warlord Doku Umarov claims he was behind the recent bombings in Moscow and Dagestan.
Congressman Alcee Hastings says Russia and the US should join their forces in fighting such fanatics.
He added that the terrorist groups operating in the North Caucasus are linked with Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.
Hastings also leads an international security commission, which is convinced Umarov’s gang has carried out about 900 terrorist attacks in Russia over the last three years.
Despite the fact that Doku Umarov was linked to the Beslan school slaughter back in 2006, he was never put on the international wanted terror list.
Political analyst from RIA Novosti news agency Dmitry Babich explained that the reason for the reluctance of some US officials to view Umarov as terrorist is because “there is an anti-Russia bias. Anyone fighting Russian ‘imperialism’, as they call it, is basically not a bad man.”
Alcee Hastings’ initiative is long overdue, believes Babich.
“If we look at what’s going on in the North Caucasus, these terrorist groups that operate there, they are not only anti-Russian, they are also anti-Western,” said the analyst, who once interviewed the notorious terrorist Shamil Basayev who was eliminated by Russian special forces.
“When I interviewed Basayev his logic was the following: the West did not manage to stop Russia in 1994-1995, so the West is an ally of Russia, Russia is a part of the Western civilization – we are going to strike at the West,” recalled Babich, questioning “How long it could continue? Sixteen years now. It is time to wake up.”
Analyst believes that both Al-Qaeda and terrorists from the North Caucasus share the same ideology and are being financed from one source.
Watch the full interview with Dmitry Babich
According to Nikolay Petrov from the Carnegie Center in Moscow, if the US included Doku Umarov in its international terror list it would send a strong message to Russia.“It will be more symbolic than practical, but it will be very important for Russian authorities to show that we are really fighting similar enemies with the United States and it is recognized by American authorities,” Petrov told RT.
Watch the full interview with Nikolay Petrov
According to Josh Rogin of Foreign Policy magazine, the reason why Umarov is not on the list is simply because he has nothing to do with the United States directly.“The State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations is more political than it is substantive,” he told RT. “There are two requirements to get on the list: you have to be an active terrorist organization that is either conducting attacks or planning to conduct attacks, and you also have to threaten the interests of the United States, the United States’ nationals.”
“Although this group has declared that the United States is within their pledge for jihad, they have not actually committed any crimes outside of their current area of operation – Russia,” Rogin added. “’So the State Department probably does not want to pick a fight with a group that has not committed directly to attacking targets inside the United States.”
01.05.2010, 07:10
6 comments
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US hits nerve, calls Russia’s most-wanted terrorist a “rebel leader”Russian authorities are dismayed at the conspicuous absence of Doku Umarov, the architect of last month’s brutal attack on the Moscow Metro, on Washington’s annual list of terrorists. |
Global South, I do not understand why you do not at least acknowledge that there are "ordinary people in the West" such as myself who do not view Russia as an aggressor, and argue vigorously on your behalf. Instead, you are quite content to group everyone in the "West" as if we all hold the same political viewpoints. Such generalizations are not constructive, and the inflammatory language only serves to alienate people who would otherwise argue these issues in your favor as clearly I have concerning the original discussion around Umarov. Show me some love! :)
@Vladimir, "My personal opinion is that "the reset bottom policy" is aimed to temporarilly soften Russia's guard, before the West would deliver a decisive strike." Agree 100%. And the whole 'nuclear weapons free world' polemic coming from the West sounds to me more like 'nuclear weapons free Russia'. I just hope there are enough smart people left in Russia, and not utopian idealists like late Gorby, who see this coming and not berry their heads in the warm sends of their new found economic prosperity; or it will cost all of us dearly. For anybody from the other side of the 'iron curtain' who reads this: No, I don't believe your "reset button" and the reason is because your mantality has not changed, and it won't for another hundred years.. at least. I also agree with an oppinion I read here on this forum somewhere that Russia needs to identify and Openly confront the people who finance terrorism in Russia. 'Openly' means via media. I don's see any point in playing the 'nice one' continuously, so much so that it appears that Russian politicains' main goal is to keep the positive image of the West in the country. What's the point? Let's start calling things with their real names. Or is it too.. undiplomatic? Funny why only Russia has to be diplomatic: why is it that terrorist #1 in the US is terrorist in Russia, but terrorist #1 in Russia is ..what was it.. "rebel" and "freedom fighter" for the Americans and Brits? Or is it that American attitude towards Russians not clear from that adoption scandal?.. Yes, attitude and mentality we're talking, and Anglo-American ones are extremely anti-Russian and anti-Slavic as a whole, and anyone who's been in contact with this culture knows this for a fact. This is the basic problem and it's not a fixable one; but also, I don't see why Russia has to insist so much on being friends with this so called "West": the world is big and has four directions, not one only. BR Aleks
ME Jensen I don't really mind Mr Medvedev being nice and polite to his counterpart Obama. This is called: Diplomacy. Unfortunately, there is limits. As I have explained, several times before: America is a bully who, only respect strength and hard talk; otherwise you are rolled over at what ever levels you want. Those deceitful meetings and sweet talking lead nowhere. Just analyze what happened since Obama was elected: No US military installations surrounding Russia has been removed. America confuse everybody, including herself with that crazy ABM because she refuse to admit that this stupid Reagan's Star-War dream will never function efficiently. To keep on making money with it will be for Russia to joint in; because we never know: some unfriendly extra-terrestrials could try to invade Earth. As far as Georgia is concerned; it was a test to check Russia's willingness to accept that crazy Saakashwili as an US pawn. The answer was perfect and that man's credibility as a leader is over. American decisions' makers are excellent manipulators and they have a well thought goal. Never forget it ! Sincerely...Jean-Claude Meslin