Russia to use Israel's methods to fight against terrorism

Russia can launch preemptive strikes on terrorist bases in any part of the world

What steps should be taken to quickly unite the nation against the escalation of international terrorism? First of all, society should strengthen its resolve, wipe off the tears and make a sound assessment of the situation the way the Americans did following the September 11th attacks.

No steps of the government will be effective without massive public support. The enemy should be made aware that Russia is not scared, and every Russian regardless of age is ready to stand up for his fatherland. The president and the government will be quite capable of implementing a set of measures the president outlined in his address to the nation.

As regards the security services reform, actions of all security services should be coordinated by a united command center especially with respect to the Northern Caucasus. Security forces should focus their efforts on terrorist attacks prevention. They should also search and destroy leaders of terrorist organizations, terrorist training camps and financial support network. The security forces should be able to strike the enemy wherever it is deemed necessary including foreign countries. The Russian constitution should be changed accordingly if legal framework is required to authorize such actions.

It would be useful to make official statements (similar to those by the Israeli government) regarding the perpetrators responsible for terrorist attacks on the Russian citizens. Let everybody know that all criminals will be eventually found and brought to justice no matter how long it may take. The Russian public will be particularly glad to find out about the capture or death of Shamil Basayev, the chief mastermind behind the latest acts of terror. The Russian authorities posted a $10 million reward for information that can destroy Shamil Basayev.

Lieutenant Colonel Yuri Baluevsky, Chief of the Russian General Staff, said that Russia could launch preemptive strikes on terrorist bases in any part of the world. “Speaking of preemptive strikes on terrorist bases, Russia will take all necessary steps for destroying terrorist bases in any part of the world. However, it does not mean that we are going to use nuclear weapons during counterterrorist operations,” said he on a press conference held in Moscow on Wednesday.

Mr. Baluevsky made his statement after meeting with Commander of Joint NATO Forces in Europe, James Jones, who arrived in Moscow on a three-day meeting. Mr. Jones will also meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov. The parties will discuss a number of topics including the possibility to exchange intelligence data on terrorist organizations, and cooperation between the Russian and NATO special forces in counterterrorist field operations. 

So far the Russian authorities have failed to get Akhmed Zakayev extradited from the U.K. Akhmed Zakayev calls himself “a special representative of the Chechen republic of Ichkeriya. U.S. authorities refused to extradite the former minister of separatist government, Ilyas Akhmadov. The British and Americans found evidence provided by the Russian General Prosecutor's Office about the involvement of Akhmed Zakayev and Ilyas Akhmadov in terrorist activities insufficient.