posted on November 12, 2002 01:17:37 PM new
I don't know. This guy may not be a politico at heart.
He got upset and told the truth that the fundamentalist Muslims want to kill everyone and have a world religeous state.
Said if you are christian they want to kill you, if you are atheist they want to kill you. Even if you convert and become a Muslim they regard most traditional muslims as their enemies if they are not fundamental and militant.
He invited the reporter to be circumcised and convert...
posted on November 12, 2002 01:58:15 PM new
Maybe we'll have to start a list of "Putinisms" to run alongside "Bushisms". He is already using George's words, "targeted killing".
I'm a cynical critic of the US media, but last month Newsweek ran a brave and brilliant and terrifying report on the Chechen war. In a deeply moving account of Russian cruelty in Chechnya, it recounted a Russian army raid on an unprotected Muslim village. Russian soldiers broke into a civilian home and shot all inside. One of the victims was a Chechen girl. As she lay dying of her wounds, a Russian soldier began to rape her. "Hurry up Kolya," his friend shouted, "while she's still warm."
"Now, I have a question. If you or I was that girl's husband or lover or brother or father, would we not be prepared to take hostages in a Moscow theatre? Even if this meant – as it did – that, asphyxiated by Russian gas, we would be executed with a bullet in the head, as the Chechen women hostage-takers were? But no matter. The "war on terror" means that Kolya and the boys will be back in action soon, courtesy of Messrs Putin, Bush and Blair."
posted on November 12, 2002 11:07:02 PM new
It'll be our turn to do it to the Iraqiis next. Won't that be fun? Won't we all be so proud of our troops? Makes one wonder how the Afghani natives are hanging on.
posted on November 13, 2002 03:39:20 AM new
Oh I have no doubt they do terrible things on both sides. That does not mask the fact he at least knows that someone wants to kill him. On the other hand Bush is ever so careful to pretend that at any number of the terrorists just might be Baptists for all he knows instead of Muslims. And really really good at ignoring how many are Saudi Arabians.
posted on November 13, 2002 12:02:17 PM new
I think that Putin is politically savvy and very much in control of himself. He rose to prominence and power through his work with the KGB and effectively increased the power of the presidency; he's been especially effective in re-establishing government control of the media.
Russia has a long history of pogroms, though those against the Jews in the past have attracted the most attention in the West. He's used the Chechen conflicts as one of the chief avenues to revitalizing the police state. He's been clear that he wants the support of the West to complete this latest popular pogrom within his country. America and Europe however have withheld support so far. He's increasingly frustrated because he sees no difference between his intentions with the Chechens than the American/British invasion of Iraq, even less so since Iraq is a sovereign nation. His rather melodramatic outburst, especially with the circumcision hook, was a good ploy to be sure that his message would gain media attention, especially in Europe. His messages to the EU were apparently somewhat muted, more politically correct.
Bush, on the other hand, can't afford the political backlash that could come in this country, where we've only flirted with pogroms and xenophobia and managed to control them in the past. Sometimes it seems, just barely. There are, however, plenty of voices to express those views, among them our own fundamentalists, who are of course the good fundamentalists. Among other reasons, there are too many business interests tied to the Saudis, for them to be a viable target. Besides, too many people are already beginning to question what the War on Terrorism is really about and focusing attention in too many directions at once would be politically suicidial. Korea's unexpected announcement was a real political thorn. Also, the War on Terrorism requires gradual background preparation for each new front, until that particular target is ripe for becoming a major world crisis, which must be dealt with immediately.
posted on November 13, 2002 03:32:00 PM new
I have a problem with that Russian Rape Account. If they shot everyone there, who was the witness to the account? And it also reads like the propaganda put out by Madison Ave. during the Kuwait-Iraq war that turned out to be totally false....
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I live in my own little world, but it is Okay...They know me here.
posted on November 13, 2002 03:59:06 PM new
Mlecher,
Robert Fisk is an internationally recognized journalist for the Independent of London. His in-depth reports on the Middle East have provided a much needed contrast to official doctrine and have empowered activists all over the world. He is a regular contributor to ZNet as well as the Nation and other publications.
Throughout history, rape during war has been a problem. The fact that Fisk was using the rape to make a point doesn't necessarily indicate that the story is untrue.
