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New-found friendship

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  • New-found friendship

    Whoever is at the helm in the US, whether it is the (Republican) elephant or the (Democratic) donkey, George Bush or John Kerry, anti-US sentiments have prevailed in Russia for years.

    This made the results of a survey conducted by our newspaper sensational, because the number of respondents who had a favourable attitude towards the US proved to be unexpectedly high. What happened? Was it yet another manifestation of the "mysterious Russian soul"? Or were people influenced by any particular developments?

    The poll was carried out days after the Beslan tragedy. At the time, Russia could think about nothing else. Even if it did, it did so through the prism of Beslan. It was in such days and hours that the organisers of the poll asked Russian citizens to reflect on the US and its forthcoming presidential election. Russians say that a friend in need is a friend indeed. Vladimir Putin was the first foreign leader to call George Bush on September 11 2001, expressing his support for America. Mr Putin said: "Americans, we are with you."

    They were not mere words of solidarity. It was a political choice, and predetermined Russia's participation in the counterterrorism coalition. Likewise, on September 1 this year, Mr Bush was the first foreign leader to call Mr Putin in the aftermath of Beslan, offering him "any aid that may be needed". The following day, the White House set out its position - at this tragic time, it offered its full support to Russia, a partner in the fight against international terrorism. Days later, Richard Armitage, the US deputy secretary of state, said people such as Shamil Basayev were "not worthy of existence in the type of society that we endorse". Never before had western officials spoken so vehemently against Chechen terrorists. Soon afterwards, the US outlawed Basayev's grouping. In the days of the Beslan tragedy, the US took a firm stand, never attempting to dilute it with political rhetoric. The EU, however, acted differently.

    Beslan had not even buried its dead when the foreign minister of the Netherlands, the country that holds the EU presidency, demanded that Moscow explain how the tragedy could have happened. The remark was made at the wrong time - it sounded insensitive, and the state-controlled Russian media jumped at it the chance to use it for propaganda means. As La Rochefoucauld said, we are strong enough to bear the misfortunes of others. Ordinary Russians did not feel that much strength had been shown by European politicians.

    Meanwhile, Mr Bush, so widely criticised, again insisted: "They who are against terrorists are with us." Even the fact that the first Beslan-bound foreign plane carrying humanitarian aid arrived from Europe could not change that position. The plane came from Italy, where 150,000 citizens took to the streets to show their solidarity with the residents of a small town in North Ossetia. Our poll also showed that, in the aftermath of the Beslan tragedy, Russians feel more sympathy with Americans facing difficulties in Iraq - they say terrorists are vile, ruthless and everywhere, striking without warning.

    Moreover, it is felt that those who kill hostages in Iraq have much in common with the Beslan terrorists - they wear the same camouflage uniforms, the same masks. Without a doubt, Russia and the US have a common enemy. To fight that enemy means to fight for peace on earth. For Russia, September 2004 means not only Beslan, but also the political consequences of the tragedy. On the pretext of stepping up anti-terror efforts, President Putin moved to change the constitution and partially deprive Russian citizens of their electoral rights.

    That initiative evoked a wide response. Not only were many Russians highly critical of the move - Mr Putin's ratings fell to their lowest point since the Kursk nuclear submarine disaster - but they also began to ask questions.

    Did President Bush ever try to encroach upon the US constitution? Why did not it occur to him, in the wake of 9/11 attacks, to abolish governor elections? And why has democracy in the US proved to be stronger than that in Russia?

    While Russians citizens look for the answers to those questions, Russia again falls far behind. The US model looks like a distant star on the horizon.

    · Boris Yunanov is diplomatic observer of Moskovskiye Novosti


    http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselection...327476,00.html

  • #2
    So Nice.
    My only fear lies with the media mug-heads in between the two societies.
    I was so terrib'lly pi$$ed of at BBCs reporting that i fired a couple of "neat" feedbacks to them scum.No wonder they did not publish those letters in their websites.

    But i do have a small feeling that the West needs to show a little more sympathy to the Russians.Oil politics , they say is in Americas intrest.For the time being we have to drop that and bury every mullah with pigs.

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