I really like Peters and agree completely with what he wrote. However, I'm not sure Europe will get it. Le Figaro is reporting pretty much what happened, but then what? Just the usual condemnation.
In today's SvD (Svenska Dagbladet/Swedish Times) it is stated in clear text that
"[...] this can only happen in Russia". SvD is the only right wing mainstream news paper here, but is usually objective.
Quote:
Laila Freivalds, Swedish foreign minister
Foreign minister Laila Freivalds thinks that terrorists who use children as weapons have based all boundaries.
-You can't defend it in any way, says the foreign minister.
-I'm afraid that it can be a way to get maximum attention, fears Freivalds who doesn't want to express whether or not the Russian authorities ought to have acted differently.
Laila Freivalds believes that the drama is just one in a line that shows that nobody walks free from the effects of terrorism.
-The conflict needs a political solution, otherwise it might escalate, says Freivalds and adds that EU's criticism of the Russian government's policy on Chechnya still stands.
[hr]
Prime minister critical of Moscow
Prime minister Göran Persson yesterday commented the bloody solution to the hostage crisis.
-I feel rage and anger against terrorists who commit this type of acts [...] there is nothing that can defend this type of behavior.
-I take for granted that the Russian authorities have done what they could to save as many as possible of the hostages. Unfortunatelly, we now know that children have died and that is an devestating loss.
Sweden and the EU have criticised the Russian war and policy in Chechnya. Is there any reason to change that attitude?
-No, not the fundamental criticism [...] We're critical of the Russian Chechnian policy, but it doesn't make these types of acts righteous.
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The US response and covering of the event was noted between the above ones.
On the page to the right the headline says "Putin feeds terrorism", with an article that goes on to explain 'why they're in this situation', and draws parallells to George W. Bush:
"The Russian president has, the same way as George W. Bush after September the 11th, had an attitude of "If you're not with me, you're against me"." (my emphasis)
Even the opinions of the Swedish Defense Institute goes on to explain the problems under these three headers:
- Over reliance on military solutions.
- No real negotiations.
- Lack of respect for human lives.
While I know that Russia is not a saint, no criticism of the terrorists cause was printed, just the acts they led to.
I'd be very suprised if this leads to any European change of stance. Europe is too occupied with its imaginary existance as the concience of the world and to try to act as an authority on all subjects.
Just my .02