I was just responding many posts in general and expressing my opinion sorry if it seems I was responding to your post only. I agree with you completely I would only count Australia and England as our long term allies.
Putin is just trying to play us for suckers.
How do you know that? In what specific way is that demonstrated?
I believe its quite clear that Putin has been opposing us on the war on terror (eg resistance to Iraq)and now suddenly has changed what was essentially a separatist war into an islamo-terrorist resistance and forced us to turn a blind eye to his human rights record. If he supports fighting terror why aren't there any Russian troops in Iraq ? Why does he suddenly get all high and mighty about fighting terrorists in Chechnya. Chechnya was a separatist war and solely Russia's problem until both Putin and the Muslims made it into another front in the war on terror. Not that that diminishes any way the murder of all those people. But the basic issue is whether its Russia's problem or the civilized world's.
But the basic issue is whether its Russia's problem or the civilized world's. It's both, just like the fight in Israel is both and just like the fight in this country is both. The difference is W has a policy of going and finding them wherever they are with whatever it takes. We are the only ones committed to fighting world terrorism.
As you say, Putin has not supported us in the war against terror. He made a strategic miscalculation way back and needs to correct that mistake and come on board. To be honest, I'm not sure he knows how.
AS far as the terrorists in Chechnya, my view sees muslim terrorists in a simplistic manner. They may be in a different area trying to take over (or destroy) a different group of people but aside from that, they're ALL the same bunch of scum using the same tactics.
Fascism has many faces. This 'muslim fundamentalism' is simply the most recent face. Carter turned em loose, Clinton allowed em to grow with impunity, now Dubya's gonna try to clean em up. Once again a Republican has to clean up a Dim's mess.
Some things never change.