Shamil Basaev News Today

Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov’s ailing health and lack of a succession plan may create opportunities for terrorist and separatist activity in Russia’s most unstable republic. 

As a result of outsourcing, networks of private military and intelligence contractors (PMCs and PICs) are now in a position to influence or even determine U.S. foreign policy

Throughout April, Russia has escalated its political and militarypressure on its neighbor Georgia. At the NATO summit in Bucharest,President Vladimir Putin reportedly threatened to recognize theindependence of the breakaway autonomous republics of Abkhazia andSouth Ossetia if Georgia was granted a Membership Action Plan (MAP)for eventual accession to NATO. On April 16, despite France andGermany balking at providing a MAP, and apparently as retributionfor the West's recognition of Kosovo&#03...

The hostage crisis in Moscow by Chechen Islamist extremists raisedconcerns about the security of post-Soviet weapon stockpiles. Thelikelihood of an attack with massive civilian casualties or the useof WMDs in the Russian-Chechen conflict has grown significantly.The U.S. should bilaterally expand security cooperation withRussia.

The Bush Administration needs to monitor a new geopolitical shiftthat is taking place following the visit of de-facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Abullah to Russia on September 1-2. Moscow andRiyadh, old rivals, now claim to have found a common agenda, whichspans oil, terrorism, and arms sales.

The death of former Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov may beVladimir Putin's short-term gain, but it is Russia's long-termloss. Moscow will now confront the deadly face of Islamic extremistterrorism. Washington should cooperate selectively with Russia intracking and intercepting terrorists' financial flows, technicalexpertise, and training capabilities.

When Bush and Putin meet, the agenda should focus on the waragainst Iraq, the war on terrorism, North Korea's nuclear programs,Russia's proliferation of WMDs, and energy security. Bush shouldstress to Putin that both countries' security interests lie inglobal stability, access to energy resources, and economic growth.