tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623721153002721356.post4236754133823169621..comments2024-03-27T12:40:09.015+00:00Comments on Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness: Cooperation with Russia is possible. Terror is a great place to start.Owen Polleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00567787385096905811noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623721153002721356.post-85573490877469092902009-10-03T03:45:56.478+01:002009-10-03T03:45:56.478+01:00Chekov,
Sorry about the delay in response time. I...Chekov,<br />Sorry about the delay in response time. I'm not so much concerned about "Chechen banditry" as state sponsored terrorism and crimes against humanity which were carried out by federal forces under Russian command. Also to say that the current insurgencies have little in common with the first two Chechen wars is wide of the mark in my mind.<br /><br />It is certainly a shame that you don't extend the call for understanding to non Russians.yourcousinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00734380865417454796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623721153002721356.post-66913025253864077162009-09-23T09:37:14.680+01:002009-09-23T09:37:14.680+01:00am I wrong to think that you would be disinclined ...<i>am I wrong to think that you would be disinclined to include state terror in that assessment?</i><br /><br />I certainly don't approve of suppressing Chechen banditry with more Chechen banditry. Nor do I advocate criminal provinces being tolerated within Russia's borders.<br /><br />The most salient threat today is in any case different from the tribal separatism which marked the Chechen conflicts.Owen Polleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00567787385096905811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623721153002721356.post-33079410856924795762009-09-23T03:42:53.462+01:002009-09-23T03:42:53.462+01:00When did Putin get his own "ism"?
As fo...When did Putin get his own "ism"?<br /><br />As for terror in the Caucuses, am I wrong to think that you would be disinclined to include state terror in that assessment?<br /><br />Because the last time I looked Putin seems to be reading more out of Alexei Ermolov's book than any other and while it worked for Alexei and worked in the short term for Putin I fail to see how a long term peace can be found using that strategy.yourcousinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00734380865417454796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623721153002721356.post-89624692558803314182009-09-22T08:54:25.351+01:002009-09-22T08:54:25.351+01:00Ah! A careless error on my part. 'Blogoir...Ah! A careless error on my part. 'Blogoir' it is then.Owen Polleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00567787385096905811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623721153002721356.post-52606339116164626122009-09-22T08:31:35.561+01:002009-09-22T08:31:35.561+01:00Just to add that I do not say that I am the first ...Just to add that I do not say that I am the first diplomatic blogger -there are plenty of them out there, especially among the State Department crowd. <br /><br />Rather I did/do (somewhat vaingloriously) claim to be offering the first diplomatic 'blogoir', a hybrid blog and memoir, in an attempt to look back over a long career and draw some wider operational and philosophical conclusions from specific episodes as seen with the benefit of hindsight. <br /><br />Russia of course offers rich material. There is plenty on my site about Russia and all the policy dilemmas for Russians and the rest of us arising from its history, gathered here:<br />http://www.charlescrawford.biz/N0RXWL854071Charles Crawfordhttp://www.charlescrawford.biznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623721153002721356.post-56994757645526259212009-09-21T15:13:54.424+01:002009-09-21T15:13:54.424+01:00Elegantly put. I'll reply over at my place soo...Elegantly put. I'll reply over at my place soon. <br /><br />The issue (I think, having worked for years at the diplomatic coal-face of these issues) is partly about what in principle should be possible, but more about what in practice turns out to happen when basic instincts and working practices as between Westerners and Russians simply do not coincide...<br /><br />CharlesCharles Crawfordhttp://www.charlescrawford.biznoreply@blogger.com