September 8, 2004
KICKING VICHY
Russia Threatens to Strike Terror Bases (Steve Gutterman, AP, 9/8/04)
Col.-Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, chief of the general staff of Russia's armed forces, asserted Russia's right to strike terrorists beyond its borders.Well, that certainly clarifies things. Posted by David Cohen at September 8, 2004 4:03 PM"As for carrying out preventive strikes against terrorist bases ... we will take all measures to liquidate terrorist bases in any region of the world," he told reporters.
Baluyevsky made his comments alongside NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe, Gen. James Jones, after talks on Russia-NATO military cooperation, including anti-terror efforts.
European Union officials reacted cautiously to Baluyevsky's statements, with spokeswoman Emma Udwin saying she could not be sure whether they represented government policy. Udwin said the 25-nation EU is against "extra-judicial killings" in form of pre-emptive strikes. . . .
The Bush administration also has a policy of pre-emptive military action against terrorists.
It's not extra-judicial once you acknowledge that this is war.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at September 8, 2004 5:04 PM"'extra-judicial killings'"? I got judicial warrants for searches and arrests as a federal prosecutor, but a killing warrant? Interesting concept.
Posted by: Fred Jacobsen (San Fran) at September 8, 2004 5:20 PMGee, I guess Michigan and Canada are in for a rough time, eh?
Posted by: Tom Wall at September 8, 2004 8:34 PMThis is the first time I have ssen the word 'liquidate' used where it didn't feel smarmy. And if the Russians know all the addresses in the Bekaa Valley, well - time for a joint excercise. With no survivors.
Posted by: jim hamlen at September 8, 2004 10:00 PMSomehow, al Qaida doesn't stike me as being even as good as Germany, let alone the United States, in trying to fight a two-front war.
Posted by: John at September 8, 2004 11:10 PMNotice General Baluyevsky's choice of words?
"Liquidate".
Posted by: Ken at September 9, 2004 1:00 PM