Posted on 09/04/2004 8:16:02 AM PDT by rang1995
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Saturday, September 4, 2004 · Last updated 7:51 a.m. PT
Putin promises tougher response to terror
By JUDITH INGRAM ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin promised a tougher response to terrorism Saturday, saying in a surprising admission of weakness that the Soviet Union's collapse had left the country unable to react to attacks. "Weak people are beaten," he warned.
The former KGB spy said in a televised address to the nation that terrorists are waging an "all-out war" against Russia. He said he would enact reforms to make security services more effective, tighten border controls and establish a new system to control the situation in the war-torn Caucasus.
Earlier, Putin sealed the borders of North Ossetia, the republic where more than 340 people were killed in a hostage-taking at a school that turned violent Friday. The hostage-taking was carried out by militants seeking independence for Chechnya, where Russian troops have been battling separatists on and off for more than a decade.
Putin vowed never to give in to international terrorists, and that in order to fight them, Russians could not continue living in a "carefree" way.
He blamed police corruption and porous borders for the failure to stop attacks and called for mobilizing the nation before what he called the "common danger" of terrorism.
"In general, we need to admit that we did not show an understanding of the complexities and dangers of the processes occurring in our own country and in the world," he said.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the nation was weakened and unable to respond effectively to terrorism, Putin said.
"We stopped giving enough attention to questions of defense and security, and allowed corruption to infect our judicial and law enforcement sphere," he said.
"Moreover, our country - which used to have the strongest defense system of its external borders - instantly became unprotected from either the West or the East."
"In any case, we couldn't adequately react ... We showed weakness, and weak people are beaten," he said.
Putin made a lightning pre-dawn visit to Beslan, the town where the school is located and announced the closing of the region's borders while authorities search for the attackers' accomplices. Later Saturday, he decreed two days of mourning on Monday and Tuesday.
"I ask you to remember those who died at the hands of terrorists in recent days," he said in his address.
He said measures would be taken to strengthen Russia's unity, create a more effective crisis management system, establish a new system to control the situation in the Caucasus, and overhaul the law enforcement organs.
"We are obliged to create a much more effective security system and to demand action from our law enforcement organs that would be adequate to the level and scale of the new threats," he said.
Putin said some foes wanted to tear off parts of Russia, and others were helping them.
"They help, supposing that Russia - as one of the greatest nuclear powers - still poses a threat to them. So they have to get rid of that threat."
more----Putin declared Saturday Russia has the single choice of fighting terror. It will be a cruel war, "but if we surrender, millions will drown in rivers of blood.”
Terrorism is not an internal matter, he stressed, but a direct intervention by international terror against Russia, to counter which advanced counter-terror tactics must be quickly developed. He pointed out that terrorists have a particular interest in destabilizing Russia in order to lay hands on its nuclear assets.
My best wishes to President Putin and the Russian people.
Damm. That's right into Kerry's face.
I wonder what overtures have been made by W to Putin, and vice versa since yesterday..
The monsters overstepped by going after those schoolchildren. This will strengthen the bonds and convictions of our coalition partners.
I think we'll see some old grudges set aside shortly.
But Putin is a scary fellow. He could use this as a pretext to reduce the Russian standard of living and use Russian resources to become a super power once again.
"lets join together and kick their ass"
i hope
It's time for the Muhammadans to start receiving some of the nuclear weapons they so desperately want from Russia...
I think Putin finally gets it. Let's hope he now understands it is in Russia's best interest to join with the West and defeat radical islam before it's too late.
My thinking as well. This going to sound bad, I certainly dont mean it to be, but this attck I think has sealed Kerry's fate.
We have another "Elbe River" opportunity.
This time, there are MUTUAL interests at stake.
God Bless the Russian People, and God Bless America.
Clearly, the shady dealing of "oil for food" are gone. Other shady dealings are active - ie. Iran.
Let's hope it is clear to Putin than the financial gains Russia was getting is small compared to the security risks she was taking.
When we see russian "mafia" arrested, then we'll know there is a serious attempt to clean the burocracy of the leeches.
I bet there have been many phone calls between the two.
"He pointed out that terrorists have a particular interest in destabilizing Russia in order to lay hands on its nuclear assets."
{ sound of door opening }
Putin's secret police thuggishness is coming out... and the associated stupidity that goes with it.
Terrorists aren't afraid of the nuclear arsenal of a country which won't use them except in response to a nuclear attack on them.
Putin, they got the idea that you were soft on terror because you wouldn't stand solidly behind the coalition that went into Iraq. Of course, they were stupid to think that... but what does it matter? They've come after you, and now you are reacting... Exactly like we predicted you would have to if you did not join with us.
Putin scares me... he enjoys his power entirely too much. I just wonder how much of a russian patriot he is, and how much of a mafia thug he is.
Putin is a coward. He's supplying the Iranian government with mass weapons and helping them build their second nuclear reactor while tooting these lies.
Russians deserve better.
"Let's hope it is clear to Putin than the financial gains Russia was getting is small compared to the security risks she was taking."
Let's hope, indeed. Russia refused to help us in Iraq at least in part because of its deals with that murdering Saddam. The price Russians are paying is not one that GW would accept. I just don't know about Putin.
Heads up Paris!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.