U.S., Russia Forge New Alliance
September 29, 2001
By RON FOURNIER
WASHINGTON (AP) - The terrorist attacks on America have transformed
relations
with Russia, thrusting the Cold War rivals into into an alliance against
terrorism.
The new paradigm became evident on Sept. 11, when President Bush ordered
the
U.S. military to high alert shortly after the attacks and Moscow did not
follow suit.
Russian President Vladimir Putin telephoned the White House, as Bush
hastily
flew away from Washington aboard Air Force One. National Security
Adviser
Condoleezza Rice took the call in a bunker beneath the presidential
mansion.
``I want you to know that we are not putting our troops on alert,''
Putin
told her. ``Not only are we not going on alert, we are standing down.''
Rice passed word to Bush, who later remarked that Putin must have taken
to
heart his oft-repeated statement that the United States and Russia are
no
longer enemies.
Putin called Bush the next day to express his condolences for the
thousands
of lives lost. He also pledged Russia's help in defeating terrorism.
Suddenly, nobody is talking about the dispute over Bush's missile shield
dreams. U.S. forces are preparing to strike from former Soviet
territory. And
a longtime source of tension, the rebel uprising in Chechnya, has become
a
pivot point in the reconfigured U.S.-Russian partnership.
In a sign of the closer alliance, a number of high-ranking Americans
were in
Moscow this weekend: Undersecretary of State John Bolton for talks on
the
military and diplomatic front, Trade Representative Robert Zoellick on
Russia's desire for a better trade status, and a delegation from the
Joint
Chiefs of Staff to discuss military matters.
The United States has gained unprecedented access to three key former
Soviet
states near Afghanistan, Russia's help to arm resistance to the
terrorist-harboring Taliban regime, and valuable intelligence about the
region. Russia fought an unsuccessful war in Afghanistan in the 1980,
when
Putin was a Soviet spymaster.
In return, Putin won an unexpected opportunity to earn respect in the
West
and a freer hand in Chechnya. Bush linked the rebels to terrorists for
the
first time, giving tacit approval, perhaps, for Putin to crack down.
Quite a turnabout for two men who warily eyed each other in the early
months
of Bush's term.
``There's a convenient meeting of interests here,'' said Antony Blinken,
for
seven years a senior member of President Clinton's national security
team. He
said Putin may be able to slow, if not stop, Bush's missile defense
system.
``This conflict against terrorism has the potential to forge new
alliances of
convenience around the globe,'' Blinken said. ``Russia may be the best
example, but it's not the only one.''
Indeed, the terrorist strike has turned the global community on its ear.
U.S. officials say they're getting intelligence from Libya and Sudan,
two
terrorist-harboring states. Pakistan, rife with anti-American sentiment,
is a
U.S. staging ground. And Japan may loosen its World War II-era
restrictions
on military action to help the United States.
Two weeks after the attacks on New York and Washington, Putin threw his
lot
firmly behind the United States in a speech to German's parliament. He
said
Russia, Europe and the United States must unite in a new, common
struggle.
``We speak about partnership, but in reality we've never learned to live
together,'' Putin said. ``Today we must firmly declare: The Cold War is
over.''
Hours later, Bush gleefully discussed the speech with advisers in the
Oval
Office. He had good news, too, from Saudi Arabia: The kingdom had cut
ties
with the Taliban government.
``We've got to say something about this,'' Bush told his team. ``Let's
work
on some language.''
The remarks were hurriedly drafted and delivered several minutes later.
``I am most pleased that the Saudi Arabians yesterday cut off relations
with
the Taliban and that President Putin, in a strong statement to the
world,
talked about cooperation that Russia and the United States will have in
combatting global terrorism,'' Bush said.
Bush is creating a coalition of strange bedfellows. Russia, Saudi
Arabia,
Japan, Libya, Sudan and many more - all providing aid to the United
States,
but helping themselves, too.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Ron Fournier has covered the White House and politics for
The
Associated Press since 1993.
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