#4
Versty
January 24, 2002
THE ART OF WIPING THINGS OUT
Russia feels deceived by the United States
Author: Evgeny Mikhilov
[from WPS Monitoring Agency, www.wps.ru/e_index.html]
THE ANTI-TERRORIST OPERATION IN AFGHANISTAN IS APPARENTLY DRAWING TO A CLOSE.
NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THE FRIENDSHIP PRESIDENT BUSH PROMISED RUSSIA JUST A SHORT
TIME AGO IS CHANGING TO ANOTHER CHILL IN RELATIONS; THE US NO LONGER NEEDS
RUSSIA'S HELP, AND IS REVERTING TO ITS PREVIOUS ATTITUDES.
According to many analysts, the operation the United States started in
Afghanistan is drawing to a close; although the declared goals remained
unfulfilled. The fighters against terrorism have only captured a tenth of Al-Qaeda
guerillas, while the rest have departed for destinations unknown or gone into
hiding, closely monitoring further developments in the country. Osama bin Laden
and Mullah Omar Muhammad, with their inner circles of fighters, are also hiding
somewhere - most probably beyond the borders of Afghanistan.
So now, when the US has gained all it could from Russia, American
"hawks" have decided that any closer relations between our countries
would only impede the realization of long-term plans for expansion of US
influence around the world. For example, Russia is absolutely opposed to any
missile strikes on Iraq or Iran; a position which cannot get much support in the
US. This problem is quite likely to become the touchstone in our relations in
the near future.
The fact that its usually obedient NATO partners have supported Moscow has
been a very unpleasant surprise for the US. The active development of Central
Asia by the Americans is quite likely to create a stumbling block too, for this
is the Russia's traditional zone of influence. In spite of previous agreements
about a troop presence here being temporary, Washington is settling into the
military bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan seriously and for the long term.
The present situation somewhat resembles the post-World War II events, when
the Americans turned from our allies into enemies very quickly.
"Blocking" the Russian initiative for a transition to a qualitatively
new level in relations between Russia and NATO appears quite symptomatic. It was
the US delegation that spoke out against creating a new Russia-NATO body at the
meeing of NATO foreign ministers. The Russian party's proposal was to give
Russia a vote in questions of counteracting international terrorism and
peacekeeping operations beyond the NATO responsibility zone. As a result, Russia
only received a consulting vote, which carries no obligations.
Not that long ago, President George Bush officially announced that the United
States will withdraw from the ABM Treaty signed by the US and the Soviet Union
in 1972. After the September terrorist acts, the U.S. initiative for a
unilateral withdrawal from the ABM Treaty was pushed into the background - there
was more important business on the agenda. Washington even seemed to be revising
its position on this issue. Now, when the peak of the anti-terrorist operation
has passed and dependence on Russia's assistance is declining, Bush has decided
to carry out his plans as previously intended. Even though this move by the
United States is being condemned in Europe, as well as in Russia.
Recent revelations about the Pentagon's plans for dismantled nuclear warheads
could lead to additional strain in Russian-American relations. The US is not
going to destroy all of the warheads it cuts. In the words of James Crouch, the
U.S. Defense Secretary's aide on international security, some of them will be
stored "in case of a drastic change in the international situation".
The lack of scruples in the US administration is seen in the very approach to
the calculation of nuclear weapons subject to cuts. In the view of Ivo Daalder
and James Lindsey of the Brooklyn Institute, President Bush only speaks about
the warheads that are deployed; he is keeping quiet about those in the process
of being inspected or repaired. Thus, about 300 nuclear warheads remain entirely
unregistered, which completely contradicts the commonly accepted standards of
registration of existing arsenals.
Well, fine words about strategic alliances are one thing, while the actual
struggle for spheres of influence - that's another matter.
(Translated by P. Pikhnovsky)
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