Posted on 09/08/2004 11:49:33 AM PDT by yonif
A Russian threat to carry out pre-emptive strikes against terrorist bases outside its territory is “understandable” and within international law, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said today.
A senior Russian military officer today told reporters that Moscow was ready to take any measures necessary “to liquidate terrorist bases in any region of the world” in the wake of last week’s Beslan school outrage.
The European Union and Nato were wary of responding to the comments, with one EU spokeswoman noting that no public statement on pre-emptive attacks had yet been made by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But Mr Straw made clear he believed the policy to be approved by Mr Putin.
“I think the reaction is an understandable one by President Putin,” he said. “The United Nations charter does give the right of self-defence and the UN itself has accepted that an imminent or likely threat of terrorism certainly entitles any state to take appropriate action.
“I don’t think President Putin was talking about launching any immediate attack.”
The chief of Russia’s general staff, Lt-Col Yuri Baluyevsky told reporters in Moscow that Russia’s armed forces would carry out “preventive strikes against terrorist bases,” adding, “we will take all measures to liquidate terrorist bases in any region of the world”.
His comments follow last week’s school siege in the region of North Ossetia, which has been blamed by Moscow on separatist rebels from neighbouring Chechnya – itself legally a Russian territory.
Russian leaders have claimed such a right before, tacitly threatening neighbouring Georgia that they could pursue Chechen rebels allegedly sheltering within its borders.
Not when it comes to Israel. And Jack Straw has shown these colors before:
Newshost:
SIMON: As a UK voter I would ask Mr Straw why he is so keen in enforcing UN resolutions about Iraq and yet will do absolutely nothing to enforce UN resolutions in the case of Israel/Palestine?
Jack Straw:
The question is wrong. We want to see all UN resolutions enforced. The Prime Minister committed us to enforce the key Israel/Palestine resolutions in his speech yesterday. But there is in any event a significant difference in the resolutions against Iraq. They are "higher law" made under "Chapter 7" of the UN Charter that authorises the use of force. The Israel/Palestine resolutions are different. They impose obligations on all sides and we're working on them.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/forum/2285621.stm
And we all remember the UK voting for the UN resolution, along with the EU, calling for Israel to tear down its counter-terror fence.
Ping.
Ariel Sharon should immediately echo Putin's comments, stating that Israel is prapared to strike anywhere as neccessary to destroy terrorists. Then we can sit back and enjoy the grotesque double-talk of Mr Straw and Mr Powell.
The Russians can finally understand W's feelings after 9/11.
Go figure!
Yes, Vlad...kill them all.
Screw "international law". Where does the murder of innocent men, women and CHILDREN fall in international Frikin law?!?
Welcome aboard, Russia. Sorry it took the death of 350 innocents to clear your head.
Somebody should coordinate things soon. There will be so many attacks on terrorist bases by all parties that there is danger of rockets flying into airplanes and bombs colliding in midair, not to mention hit squads being hit by friendly fire.
“I don’t think President Putin was talking about launching any immediate attack.”
I do!
Agreed. KILL ARAFAT NOW! The whole world will understand more than ever before.
We must do this quickly before the liberal numbness sets in as it always does over time. Let not the horrific death of those innocent children be without consequence, for all Muslims.
Yup, I believe the US has forces in Georgia to deter just this kind of attack. I think we would be wise to withdraw them.
What Vlad needs to do is state that the Wahhabi sect of Muslim has been downgraded to a terorist organization. It will no longer be recognized by the govt of Russia as anything other than a target. Then he should rope off and level every Wahhabi mosque.
He should also state that from this point on, all terrorists shall be be buried with a pork chop in their mouth.
I join Straw in defending Russia's right to attack terrorist bases.
And I will add, the right to wipe them off the face of the earth.
The whole world will never understand-too much stupidity and sympathiacs out there. Those who do understand and have the power to take action, must do what must be done, and to hell with those too dense to understand.
I can't wait till the rest of the world comes to an all-ready-obvious-to-me conclusion that we should just nuke every country in CENTCOM's AOR.
"The chief of Russia’s general staff, Lt-Col Yuri Baluyevsky told reporters in Moscow that Russia’s armed forces would carry out “preventive strikes against terrorist bases,” adding, “we will take all measures to liquidate terrorist bases in any region of the world."
A light colonel the chief of Russia's general staff?? Methinks the reporter got that wrong and his editor knew so little about the military that he didn't catch it.
Whacking Islamonazis should be an Olympic event.
Why kill Yasser now? Makes no sense, as he is a very convenient scapegoat. Besides, I want him to live to see his every dream destroyed. That is a fate worse than death. Or better yet, his own people will likely slit his throat themselves before too long.
You give me pause.
It is said that at the beginning of WWII the allies sent commandos into Germany to kill Hitler. However, after some experience with his battle tactics ...
(using trains to carry Jews instead of blankets and food to Germany troops in Russia, killing his best German commanders if they suffered any defeat, and killing off his top German scientists because of their race)
the allies sent commandos in to protect Hitler. They did not want him to be killed because he was an idiot and was getting more Germans killed than allies.
you have affected my train of thought, and I concede that you might be right. He may be the most damaging factor to the Pali cause internationally.
BTW, Arafat has no dreams, other than making millions of dollars. I believe that he doesn't give a crap about Palestine, Palestinians, Islam, or Jews, or anything. He's an Egyptian mecenary out for loot, and has been very successful at enriching himself by attaching to some cause (Palestine in this case) and gaining the support of international media and leftist Israelies.
I still would love to see the SOB dead, but maybe later.
Yes, I think that maybe he is the worst thing that could be inflicted on the Arab immigrants living in Israel.
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