<

Putin to Bush: Cool It
Saturday, November 23, 2002
By Stewart M. Powell
Hearst Newspapers

"What can happen with armies armed with weapons that exist in Pakistan, including weapons of mass destruction -- we are not sure on that aspect and we should not forget about that. We should not give a chance to anyone who is either engaged in terror or who is supporting terror."

PUSHKIN, Russia -- HN
President Bush got an unexpected earful Friday from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who insisted Bush get U.N. approval before attacking Iraq and raised questions about the role of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the war against terrorism.

Putin, appearing with Bush at a joint news conference, also made it clear he gave a higher priority to the war against terrorism than to the U.S.-led crackdown on Iraq.

The Russian leader turned reporters' questions about Iraq and al-Qaida to raise the embarrassing question, "Where has Osama bin Laden taken refuge?"

The query served as a blunt reminder that the terrorist leader has successfully eluded capture, despite U.S. efforts over the past 14 months.

Putin also took swipes at two key U.S. allies, pointedly recalling that 15 of the 19 hijackers who carried out the Sept. 11 attacks were from Saudi Arabia, a crucial U.S. ally in the Persian Gulf.

"We should not forget about those who finance terrorism," Putin said.
(More: A San Antonio Express-News News Source)
2002 © Hearst Newspapers.

A senior White House official traveling with Bush downplayed Putin's remarks on Iraq and terrorism, saying that the Russian leader had been expressing "those kinds of concerns for a while." The official added: "Those are his views, not ours."

Seems to me that the best can be achieved in both fields. Iraq will comply, grudgingly, while our #1 enemy remains globally at large. Keeping pressure on Hussein for proper compliance would be a chore while pursuing international terror and keeping our allies at least interested in assisting, but it would be a minor chore. Very doable.

Dan