War against Iraq: World reaction - Russia

The Bush Administration's claim that the attack on Iraq had the support of 40 countries sounded silly in view of the protests around the world and the opposition of leaders of major countries. The US press stressed the opposition of Chirac, but Putin of Russia was just as severe, as this Reuters (3/21/03) report says: "Putin sharply rebukes US for Iraq strikes In some of the harshest criticism by a world leader of the US attack on Iraq, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the war was unjustified and must end quickly. Russia had joined France, Germany, and China in demanding that UN arms inspectors continue their work in Iraq before the countries would back any hostilities. "This military action is unjustified...there has been no answer to the main question which is: are there weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and, if so, which ones," a grim-faced Putin told Russia's top ministers in the Kremlin. "Military action...is a big political error," he said in nationally-televised remarks, adding that it flouted world opinion and international law".

Ronald Hilton - 3/21/03