Putin threatens preventive terror actions
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Vladimir Isachenkov
Sept. 17, 2004 | MOSCOW (AP) -- President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia is "seriously preparing'' for pre-emptive strikes against terrorists, as Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility for a school hostage-taking and other attacks that have claimed more than 430 lives.
Speaking to a meeting of world mayors in Moscow, Putin also made a veiled attack on the West, saying that double standards in dealing with terrorism are "disastrous for global security.''
Putin didn't name any specific countries, but his comments appeared to be aimed against European and U.S. officials who have urged Moscow to conduct peace talks with Chechen rebels.
"There continue to be attempts to divide terrorists into 'ours and others,' into 'moderates and radicals,' " Putin said in televised remarks. "All this is a condescending, justifying attitude to murderers, which amounts to being an accomplice to terrorism.''
Putin firmly ruled out any "bargaining'' with terrorists. "Every concession leads to aggression, a widening of their demands and multiplies the losses,'' he said.
The president said that "now in Russia, we are seriously preparing to act preventively against terrorists,'' adding such action would be "in strict accordance with the law and norms of the constitution, norms of international law.''
Putin didn't elaborate, and it wasn't immediately clear whether he was referring to action against terrorists only at home or abroad as well. Lower-level officials, including Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, have said that Russia could conduct pre-emptive strikes against terrorists abroad, saying such action could involve any weapons except nuclear.
I think this guy scares me more than Bush.