What we have to say as Slavists

[Robert Chandler]

Dear all,

I am forwarding an article I found on Johnson's Russia List. Discussing
the Russian perspective on possible US retaliation is surely a way in
which we, as Slavists, can potentially make a worthwhile contribution to
the general debate.

Best Wishes, Robert Chandler

#8
strana.ru
September 14, 2001
Retaliation blows at Afghanistan may destabilize situation at Russia's
southern frontiers, Kovalyov says
Ex-FSB chief warns U.S. against repeating Soviet mistake in Afghanistan

Nikolai Kovalyov, former chief of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB)
and
now deputy chairman of the parliamentary State Security Committee,
believes
that retaliation blows at Afghanistan will have serious negative
consequences
for Russia. A military operation in Afghanistan, in his view, will
doubtlessly worsen the situation in the Central Asian region - "a mass of
refugees will pour into that region and the flow of arms will also
increase."

"When those who planned and executed the terrorist acts in the U.S. are
exposed, America should not take a unilateral decision to neutralize the
terrorists," Kovalyov said on Friday at a press conference in Moscow.

In his view, "a collective decision should be taken by all countries
together
with the UN Security Council."

Nonetheless, the former FSB chief did not rule out that the Americans
would
ignore the opinion of the world community, when they take a decision on
this
matter.

"Considering that President George Bush experiences pressure on the part
of
the population, retaliation actions may not be adequate," Kovalyov said.

Ex-FSB director stressed that damage caused by bombing will be minimal
because of Afghanistan's geographic position, as there is a possibility
to
hide in the mountains and terrorists may be destroyed only if hit
directly.
The consequences of such strikes would be catastrophic with no desired
effect, he observed.

Kovalyov pointed out further that bombing would make no sense, as "by all
indications Taliban members, who have already expressed readiness to hand
bin
Laden over, will do this."

Speaking about a possibility of launching a ground operation in
Afghanistan,
Kovalyov said it would be "a grave mistake." The U.S. would thus repeat
the
bitter experience of sending troops there by Britain and the Soviet
Union, he
emphasized.

He said Russia's security and intelligence services are prepared to
provide
the data bases on international terrorists to their American colleagues
and
stressed that the FSB is hundred percent ready to help the Americans by
providing necessary information.

Kovalyov believes that time has come for all security and intelligence
services to put together their data bases on the terrorist organizations
operating in the world.

"We have a common enemy, and all special services should help each other
to
bring abut the earliest disclosure of the terrorist acts in the U.S.,
Kovalyov said.

He stressed also that a meeting of the G-8 presidents is necessary for
taking
decisions on joint actions in the struggle against world terrorism.

******

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