Chechen Rebel Leader Killed

AP

[AdmSmith]

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/03/20050308-15.html

On Russia. The Russians have just announced they have killed the secessionist leader, Aslan Maskhadov. First, do you have any independent confirmation of that?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, the last I heard before I came out here, I'd seen the reports, but I did not have any confirmation on those reports at this point. Our views, in terms of the situation, is that we believe it should be resolved through a political process, and that remains our view.

Q How can it be resolved in a political process if the leader of the secessionists have now been killed -- has now been killed? And a number --

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I've seen the reports. I don't have confirmation on that. But we've consistently said that when it comes to Chechnya, that it needs to be -- in this situation with Russia, that it needs to be resolved through a political process.

Q I don't -- I don't see the logic there. Why is it different from capturing and killing terrorists in other countries? Why is it different from capturing Saddam Hussein in --

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I mean, you're talking about a specific report. I've not confirmed that report. I would want to find out more about the information on this particular report.

Q I'm asking --

MR. McCLELLAN: Obviously, our views on terrorists are very well known.

Q I'm asking about your --

MR. McCLELLAN: We work very closely with Russia in the global war on terrorism.

Q I'm asking about your general approach to the situation. Suppose the report comes true -- suppose the report does not turn out to be true, why do you insist that in this particular instance, the political approach is what should work, whereas in other situations involving Americans themselves, you do not have much regard for political processes, as far as I can see, in Iraq, or maybe some other places?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, again, I don't -- I'm not going to suppose anything. I do not have official confirmation on the reports that I have seen, and I would want to have that first. But we have a longstanding position when it comes to the situation in Chechnya. And our view has not changed. Our view remains that it ought -- there ought to be a political resolution to the situation.

[Straight Vermonter]

Q I don't -- I don't see the logic there. Why is it different from capturing and killing terrorists in other countries? Why is it different from capturing Saddam Hussein in --

I'd like to get an answer to that one as well.

[AdmSmith]

Take a look at this article http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20050308-052836-3811r.htm

[Straight Vermonter]

He should have been more selective about who he chose to ally himself with.

[AdmSmith]

He should have been more selective about who he chose to ally himself with.
Sure, that is exactly what many told Milt Bearden when they later understood the true nature of the groups that he supported in Afghanistan.

[Grzegorz 246]

Unfortunately Putin fights only with domestic terrorists, the foreign ones are his friends.

[A. Pole]

Unfortunately Putin fights only with domestic terrorists, the foreign ones are his friends.

Are you suggesting that he should pursue anti-Russian terrorists outside of Russia's borders? Like this Yanderbiyev in Qatar?

[Grzegorz 246]

I'm not a master in this language, but I think that I don't need to add any explanation to that post. Putin is working with terrorists, he is only against those, who want to kill him.

[GarySpFc]

Why not read the links in this post and the next? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1358424/posts?page=93#93

I agree with you regarding Basayev.

And you aso believe Gerry Adams in Ireland is only politically invovled with the IRA? Why did he appoint Basayev as his prime minister? Why did Basayev not kill Maskhadov if he thought the latter was working for peace with Moscow? Sir, if believe Maskhadov was innocent, then you are completely naive as to how terrorist organizations operate.

[Destro]

[Destro]

Shaking Hands: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein greets Donald Rumsfeld, then special envoy of President Ronald Reagan, in Baghdad on December 20, 1983.

[jb6]

What on earth ever made you think I'm an anti-Semite?

[jb6]

His main response to the Beslan massacre was to take away the voting rights of Russian citizens with regards to governors.

Who have to pass a vote of the local assembly, which is more rights then the people of Italy or France have. I guess Berlusconi is a dictator?

[Redbob]

And send the video to al Jazheera!

[K. Smirnov]

I liked that a lot.
Truth is that every Chechen who is not liked by Putin is terrorist and many ethnic Russians who are not liked by Putins are “terrorists supporters and sponsors”. That is disgusting and foolish.
6 posted on 03/08/2005 12:35:49 PM PST by Lukasz (Terra Polonia Semper Fidelis!) That is just great! Whoa! Wonderful!!! Thumbs up!!!

[Lukasz]

My pleasure.

[kenavi]

Homeland Security withdrew its appeal.

Thanks to you both for pointing this out.

There wasn't any evidence linking that ex-Foreign Minister to terrorism, so the Bush Administration had little chance to win its case to deny him asylum, but tried to anyway, apparently as a good-will gesture to Putin.

It still backs up my point that Alberta's Child was reckless to insinuate that the Bush Administration has supported Chechen terrorists. I believe that GWB's policy here again is a wise one that balances the abuses by both sides (Russians and Chechens).

[lentulusgracchus]

Thanks for the Novosti translation.

Sounds like FSB got some HUMINT and set up a counterambush. Cool.

[lentulusgracchus]

Why the hell are all of these people who were such strong supporters of the U.S. "war on terror" in the Middle East criticizing the Putin government for its means of dealing with the Chechen separatists?

I'm guessing they were recruited or joined up before Beslan clarified a few things.

They need to get themselves de-listed.

[FreeReign]

1. Why the hell are all of these people who were such strong supporters of the U.S. "war on terror" in the Middle East criticizing the Putin government for its means of dealing with the Chechen separatists?

So now it's Chechen separatism and Chechen separatists that must be dealt with? Not, just the Chechen terrorists.

The Chechen's have been treated like dirt by the Russians for the last 400 years. Russia should remove the terrorists from Chechnya and then -- get the hell out of Chechnya and leave the rest of them alone.