War against Iraq: World reaction - Russia

From Moscow, Cameron Sawyer writes: "The difference between Putin s reaction and Chirac's is that Putin's was calculated, measured, and was preceded by a friendly telephone call to Bush. The U.S. press rightly stresses Chirac's behavior, which was an unrestrained, uncalculated, self-destructive temper tantrum. Look for U.S. Russia relations to remain undamaged after all of this. Like other Europeans, most Russians don t like what we re doing in Iraq. But the reaction in Russia is markedly different. While hundreds of thousands turn out in angry, shouting crowds in Western European cities, in Moscow the biggest demonstration drew only 300 communists, mostly pensioners. Standing in front to the U.S. Embassy, they tried to ignite a portrait of George W., but failed because of the windy weather. Bystanders laughed at them. A public opinion poll released yesterday showed that 71 percent of Russians disapprove of the U.S. attack. But 45 percent considered Iraq to be the main threat to world peace".

Ronald Hilton - 3/22/03