[Second Issue of the Day]

#9
From: "Peter Lavelle" <plavelle@metropol.ru>
Subject: Contribution
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001

Peter Lavelle: Untimely Thoughts - 'Wanted posters' as foreign policy
(re US, Russia and Chechnya a week later)

Yesterday, the just recently arrived American Ambassador - Alexander
Vershbow - spoke to the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia. As AmCham
is primarily interested in bi-lateral business affairs, the Ambassador's
address focused on Russia's economic transition and how the US desires to be
a constructive partner in that process. The usual litany of items was
mentioned: PSAs, land-budget-banking reform, accession into the WTO,
American programs to promote increased contact between the two countries'
business communities, etc. Anyone in the conference hall who has lived in
Russia for at least a year was probably pleased the new Ambassador had a
grasp of Russia's present financial and economic conditions. Those looking
for more were probably mildly disappointed. If it were not for the fact
that Mr. Vershbow is a security expert, just finishing a stint as America's
Ambassador to NATO, all of us most likely would had returned to the office
thinking it was at least pleasant to see some of our business colleagues.
But given last week's events, the majority of questions asked were more
related to Mr. Vershbow's last job. Virtually everyone was interested in how
the US would respond to the "new war" and, for the Russians among us, the US
position on the war in Chechnya after the tragedies in New York and
Washington. What we heard on the future was very little. This is
understandable, the Ambassador does not make American foreign policy, he
conveys it and acts upon it. What we heard about US policy concerning
Chechnya was, to say the least, perplexing in light of last week and what
some members of the administration and Congress have been saying about how
the US should fight international terrorism. The Ambassador repeated the
well-known policy sound bites of how the Russians were not respecting human
rights, disproportionate use of force, and, most importantly, not seeking a
political solution. On the face of it, Mr. Vershbow is right - morally and
politically. Unfortunately, he was not asked to explain the policy
implications of his boss' statement: (Wanting bin Laden) "dead or alive".
Listening to POTUS speak of desired American foreign policy outcomes somehow
laid many of Mr. Vershbow's words hallow on Chechnya. What do the phrases
"transparency", "due process of law", and "following established
international norms" mean when George W. Bush demonstrates that he has no
interest in acting out what the US demands the rest of the world do? Clearly
Bush is playing to domestic American opinion. However, his words are heard
by the world as well. It is no wonder the US is accused of saying one thing
and doing something completely different. Mr. Vershbow's job isn't an easy
one. I don't suspect it will get any easier either.

Peter Lavelle
Head of Research
IFC Metropol
Moscow, Russia

 
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