Russia's Anger Makes for War Talk; J.R. Nyquist; March 30, 1999

[kabud]

Russia's Anger Makes for War Talk
J.R. Nyquist
March 30, 1999

http://web.archive.org/web/20000118153730/www.newsmax.com/articles/?a=1999/3/30/63301

When US and NATO warplanes struck Yugoslavia last week, President
Boris Yeltsin warned of a global war. But Western leaders have
seemingly scoffed at Yeltsin's statement, and those of other Russian
leaders.

By ignoring such peril, Western leaders have taken a casual approach
to Russia that may be intensifying Russia's growing animus toward the
West.

To date, no high level meetings between Russian and American officials
have been arranged to address Moscow's concerns. The usual anxiety
about US-Russian relations is almost non-existent. At the State
Department, James Rubin offered the belief that "President Yeltsin,
Prime Minister Primakov and Foreign Minister Ivanov see the value of
keeping the relationship (between the U.S. and Russia) on track, and
not letting someone like Milosevic derail everything that's at stake."

Yet the relationship is not on track.

After the air assault on Yugoslavia began last Wednesday the Russians
froze their relationship with NATO. They pulled Russian ground troops
out of the Bosnia Stabilization Force. They also expelled the NATO
representative in Moscow.

Ominously, they discontinued their cooperation on the Y2K problem -- a
problem that could have catastrophic consequences for Russia unless
they receive Western help.

Then, the Russians canceled a planned visit by Pentagon officials to
discuss the dismantling of Russian nuclear weapons. Worse still,
according to Russian news reports, the Kremlin is contemplating the
deployment of tactical nuclear weapons and bombers to Belarus. Belarus
is Russia's invasion pathway to Europe.

An alarm has been sounded throughout Russia.

When NATO bombs began falling on Russia's ally, Yugoslavia, the banner
headline of Kommersant, a business newspaper, simply said: "The Blow."
Segodnya's ominous headline explained: "It's war. The Americans cannot
convince the Serbs, and Russia cannot convince the Americans."
Vremya's headline stated: "NATO planes have attacked Yugoslavia as
well as Moscow's international authority."

On Saturday Russian lawmakers, meeting in emergency session, passed a
resolution 366-4 that called the NATO air assault on Yugoslavia "an
act of aggression that is a gross violation of the UN Charter ..." The
four page resolution further stated: "The aggression against Russia's
ally Yugoslavia is seen as a serious threat to Russian security."

Nikolai Zyubov, an independent political analyst, has stated that due
to NATO air attacks on Serbia: "Russians are far more anti-American
today than they have ever been." But more than this, he pointed out
that Russia now feels threatened.

Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Russian Communist Party declared: "The
Americans have gone down the path of Hitlerism. The use of force has
become the main argument in their policy, and so have blackmail, bombs
and threats."

The liberal Russian newspaper Izvestia called NATO's bombing campaign
a "royal gift" to the Communists in the Russian Duma. "The Party of
retrogrades," said Izvestia, "does not require a new strategy at all,
as the NATO alliance has of its own accord provided proof of the
slogans of anti-American propaganda."

Russian outrage has been apparent at the US Embassy in Moscow. Angry
Russians have pelted the US Embassy with eggs. The protestors are
often heard shouting anti-American slogans. One placard said: "NATO go
to Hell."

On Sunday the protest almost turned violent when an attempt was made
to use a grenade launcher against the Embassy building. Afterward, one
of the Russian protesters snarled: "I hope the Russian government will
understand and take this unique chance to start a war against the
enemies of the Russians and of all Slav people."

A leading Russian analyst, Leonod Radzikhovsky stated that
"xenophobia, envy and hatred of America are deep rooted feelings in
Russia." And now these feelings have been awakened.

Valdimir Zhirinovsky, wearing a military uniform, called for Russian
volunteers to fight NATO. "The Third World War started on March 24,"
he said.

Thousands of young Russians have answered Zhirinovsky's call. Colonel
General Viktor Chechevatov, commander of Russia's Far East Military
District, has offered to lead a combined Russian force of "volunteers
and regulars" into Yugoslavia.

The Russian foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, spoke of the unity of the
entire Russian nation in the face of America's bid for "global
domination."

He called it the worst crisis since the Second World War. The usually
polite Ivanov further accused NATO of "blatant genocide," saying that
NATO bombs have killed approximately one thousand Serbs. Ivanov has
also called for the criminal prosecution of those responsible for the
bombing. "We have extreme measures in reserve," warned Ivanov.

"The NATO aggression against Yugoslavia is a very big mistake by
American diplomacy and by Clinton," Ivanov said.

Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, a likely candidate for the Russian
presidency in 2000, compared the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia to the
1962 Cuban missile crisis. "The missiles were a problem for peace,"
said Luzhkov. "This is even worse."

Vice Admiral Vyacheslav Popov, commander of Russia's Northern Fleet,
told Itar-Tass on Wednesday that: "The Northern Fleet is ready to
carry out any order issued by the Supreme Command to defend Russia's
interests."

On Saturday a powerful division of the Northern Fleet put to sea,
including the heavy missile cruiser "Petr Veliky" and the aircraft
carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov."

On Monday the Russian Pacific Fleet left Vladivostok on "maneuvers."

The deployment by Russia of both her Atlantic and Pacific fleets --
neither of which have a direct relationship with the Kosovo conflict
close to the Mediterannean -- should have set off alarm bells that
Russia may have plans to widen the war, and soon.

Since last summer, Russia has been dramatically increasing the number
of nuclear warheads carried by its naval ships. Why is Russia now
moving so many ships carrying such weapons onto the high seas? And
what is the status of Russia's lethal submarine force?

From all appearances, American officials have ignored this significant
Russian deployment of warships, just as they have ignored President
Boris Yeltsin's dire warnings of a widened war.

Has Clinton led NATO into a potentially disastrous confrontation with
Russia?

Not only have American and NATO officials failed to foresee the
consequences of Russia's anger, they are doing little to soothe that
anger. Contempt for Russia's diplomatic and military strength remains.
Russia's fear and frustration in the wake of the bombing of Yugoslavia
will continue to grow. The end of the crisis is nowhere in sight.

A top Russian defector has warned that Russia's military is preparing
a surprise attack against the United States. The defector says the Y2K
problem may be a tripwire for war. Get Christopher Ruddy's special
report and two videos on the subject.