Russia's ruling tandem showed signs of an open crack for the first time as President Dmitry Medvedev publicly scolded Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for harshly criticising the U.N. Security Council resolution allowing military action in Libya.
Mr. Putin condemned the resolution as a “deficient and flawed” document that reminded him of “medieval calls for crusades”. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Medvedev called Mr. Putin's remarks “impermissible”.
Speaking at a missile factory in central Russia on Monday, Mr. Putin said the U.N. resolution “effectively allows interference in a sovereign state” and called the Western intervention a “foreign invasion”.
In response, Mr. Medvedev defended the resolution as prompted by Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi's crimes and stood by Russia's decision to abstain in the Security Council vote rather than use the right of veto.
“Russia did not exercise [the veto power] for one reason: I do not consider this resolution to be wrong. Moreover, I believe that this resolution generally reflects our understanding of what is going on in Libya,” said Mr. Medvedev.
Mr. Putin also lashed out at the U.S. policy of intervention in other countries' affairs. He described it as a “stable trend,” recalling the U.S. air strikes on Belgrade under President Bill Clinton, as well as Afghanistan and Iraq under the two Bush administrations.
“Now it's Libya's turn — under the pretext of protecting civilians,” said the Premier. “Where is logic and morality? There is neither.”
Mr. Putin made his remarks shortly after visiting U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates hailed Moscow's siding with Washington on Iran, Afghanistan and Libya and called for the Russian military to join Western coalition forces.
“The ongoing events in Libya prove that Russia is right in strengthening its defence capabilities,” said Mr. Putin.
Keywords: Libya crisis, air strike
Bric countries should also form a military alliance to counter NATO.
This is a perfect Catch-22 situation.Both Putin and Medvedev are right in their own way. We can't allow Qadhhafi to kill people in hordes and at the same time, US can't be allowed to exploit the situation. Of course, as common sense suggests, US will be more interested in exploiting the situation to its own advantage more than any other 'concern'.
'It resembles a medieval appeal for a crusade in which somebody calls upon somebody to go to a certain place and liberate it,'said Putin. It appears Putin as a Russian has forgotten not only WWI but WWII as well. If Putin wants to play the Emperor of Russia, which Putin clearly aspires to given his desire to once more have Empire, let Putin do it in his own bathtub and not on Humanity's time. The resources Putin wants to spend to become a 'Super Power' as Putin calls it to enable Putin to relive the good old days of Ivan the Terrible would be better spent on Health, Education and Economic advancement of the Russian people.
The US and NATO move on Libya is nothing but an attack by pack wolves for blood.. in this case, the O-I-L. It just like what happened in Iraq. The same pack of oil thirsty wolves invaded Iraq, killed Saddam and till today thousands of civilians are being killed by both the sides. The so called 'Human Rights Activists' who are supporting this 'legal genocide' need to be investigated. I am glad India stayed away from voting on this issue at the UN.
Thank goodness that the Hindu published this article! At the rate this publication was supporting the tyrant Gaddafi, I almost decided not to read it anymore. Until this article came along. Perhaps it's time for 'The Hindu' to move beyond the reactive and formulaic world of the NAM into a far more complex world where one's response is not merely a mechanical function of past prejudices. It is NOT 'imperialistic' or 'jingoistic' or 'pro-west' or 'being manipulated by America' to support air strikes against Gaddafi who is slaughtering his own civilians. I'm a left liberal Indian and I find many of the editorial stances taken by the Hindu puzzling and old fashioned to say the least.
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