“Is Russia Trying to Conduct Military Operations All Over the World?”

Russia sparked an international controversy over its policy of making preemptive strikes on terrorist bases all over the world if they threaten Russia.

The United States and the United Kingdom responded with an understanding attitude. However, most other countries showed serious concerns over Russia’s real intentions.

Some experts prospect that Russia might be setting its cordon around the world as it did in the past. After the former Soviet Union was disintegrated, Russia closed down many of its foreign military bases.

Jack Straw, U.K.’s foreign secretary, said on September 8, “The United Nation’s charter vests each country the right of self-defense, and it allows countries to make appropriate reactions to threats from terrorists. Russia’s reaction is understandable.” A top official at the White House said, “All countries have the right to protect themselves.”

However, Herve Ladsous, French Foreign Ministry spokesman, said “Fighting against terrorism must be handled within the European Union (EU), G8 (seven western advanced countries+ Russia), and the United Nations.” Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish prime minister, raised objection to Russia’s policy and said, “Even the strongest country in the world cannot fight against terrorism by itself.” Iranian President Seyed Mohammad Khatami said, “Conducting military actions in foreign countries is another form of terrorism.”

It is likely that Russia’s first action will be “removing the target”.

Akhmad Zakayev, envoy of Chechen rebel President Aslan Maskhadov in England, forecasted that Russia will first aim at Chechen leaders in foreign countries who have exiled to escape from suppression.

In fact, the leaders of Chechen rebels, Aslan Maskhadov and Shamil Basayev, are wanted by the Russian security authorities, with a reward of 300 million rubles (about 11.7 billion won) for their capture. In February 2004, former Chechen President Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev was assassinated in Qatar by a Russian-sent assassinator.

It is also possible that Russia may carry out military attacks on Gruziya. Russia has asserted that the Chechen rebels’ hideout is located in Pansiki Gorge in Gruziya.

It won’t be easy for Russia to attack Gruziya since the U.S. troops are stationed there. However, diplomatic experts forecast that once they succeed in their attack, Russia will expand their military intervention in Central Asian countries.

On September 8, Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union, said bitter words towards Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He criticized the Putin administration’s lack of risk-managing abilities, and defined the war against Chechen as a “meaningless war.”

Also, he said, “It seems as if improper reports are being made to President Putin,” and advised Putin not to listen only to the words of the hard-liners.

Ki-Hyun Kim kimkihy@donga.com