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Wednesday, March 26, 2003
New U.S.-Russian dispute is worry
As if relations between the United States and Russia weren't dicey enough after Russia's staunch opposition in the United Nations Security Council to the Iraq war, the Bush administration is now accusing Russian companies of selling Iraq military equipment being used against coalition forces.
Bush called Russian President Vladimir Putin directly Monday to insist that the Russian government increase its oversight of these companies and the alleged sales. The White House said Monday that the Russian companies were engaged in "ongoing" support and advice to Iraq in use of the devices, which include night-vision goggles and equipment to jam satellite navigational systems used by coalition forces to guide aircraft and missiles. That would be in clear violation of U.N. restrictions imposed after the 1991 Gulf War.
The Russian government and the companies allegedly involved have denied the administration's claims, as well as reports in The Washington Post that company staff was working in Iraq even after the war began.
Let's hope that the Bush administration is cautious in its accusations and that Russia's denials are sincere. It is one -- quite legitimate -- thing for Russia to oppose the United States diplomatically. But it would be something different -- quite alarming -- for Russia to allow, let alone encourage, companies to provide material and know-how to Iraqi military in combating forces in the U.S.-led coalition
Whatever takes place in the war's aftermath, it will be complicated if Russia and the United States are forced to view each other as adversaries, instead of advocates of opposing policies.
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