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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
Putin sez there are still bad guys in Afghanistan |
2005-06-23 |
Afghanistan is still home to terrorist-training camps and U.S.-led forces there are currently ineffective in battling insurgents, Russian President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying on Thursday. "We are seriously worried that bases for preparing terrorists are currently functioning on Afghan territory, including with the direct involvement of certain (foreign) spy services," local news agencies quoted him as saying. Russia has long said Chechen rebels train in Afghan insurgent camps, and has said repeatedly it will destroy militant training camps abroad without warning. Putin said he supported the U.S.-led coalition battling Islamist rebels and drug smugglers. "But we have to admit that the effectiveness of this force is still extremely low," he said after a meeting with fellow ex-Soviet presidents in Moscow. |
Posted by:Dan Darling |
#4 With this... the stage is being set for possible surgical strikes abroad in places like Afghanistan and elsewhere. Puti can then always shrug and reply, "Hey... I warned everyone... we say what we mean and we mean what we say... da?". |
Posted by: Fun Dung Poo 2005-06-23 23:02 |
#3 LH, I'm thinking he's lumping the Saudi's and al-Faisal in the accusation as well. |
Posted by: Rightwing 2005-06-23 15:51 |
#2 "direct involvement of certain (foreign) spy services" hes fingering ISI, which is huge IF true. and i dont think there are supposed to be any TRAINING camps left. Nah, this isnt the obvious - this is fairly intense dig at Kharzai, the "friendly" Pashtun, and of course at Pakistan, Russias traditional rival for influence in afghan (paki taking over the historic Brit role) Russia prefers the Northern Alliance Dari speakers who in recent months have been sidelined by Kharzai. Of course in the last few days Kharzai and the Pakis have beent trading accusations, proving the Great Game is as complex as ever. |
Posted by: liberalhawk 2005-06-23 15:40 |
#1 Brilliant deduction. That's why they pay him the big rubels. |
Posted by: BH 2005-06-23 12:05 |