thoroughly alleged abuses by Russian soldiers and allow international observers into the republic. But since Moscow began supplying personnel, materiel and intelligence for the anti-terror effort, Washington has been largely silent.
Recently, the United States began quietly, if actively, working to disband the financial network that supports the Chechen rebellion. One of the first major steps was to convince foreign governments that back the Chechens -- a group allegedly including Turkey, Georgia and Saudi Arabia -- to end any forms of verbal support, financial aid or weapons supplies.
For example, Russian officials disclosed Jan. 10 that the Turkish government had requested an extradition dossier on Movladi Udugov, who is wanted by the Kremlin and whose publicity efforts were instrumental in demonizing
For example, Russian officials disclosed Jan. 10 that the Turkish government had requested an extradition dossier on Movladi Udugov, who is wanted by the Kremlin and whose publicity efforts were instrumental in demonizing
Russia over the Chechen issue. It is highly unlikely that Turkey, long seen as a Chechen sympathizer and Russian rival in the Caucasus, would have taken such a step without covert U.S. pressure.
Other steps have been more overt. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Dec. 15 visited Georgia, a former Soviet state on Russia's southwestern border, officially to secure Tbilisi's support for the ongoing anti-terrorism campaign. However, he also communicated Washington's "desire to see that [the United States and Georgia] cooperate fully with respect to the probe of terrorism," the BBC reported.
Other steps have been more overt. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Dec. 15 visited Georgia, a former Soviet state on Russia's southwestern border, officially to secure Tbilisi's support for the ongoing anti-terrorism campaign. However, he also communicated Washington's "desire to see that [the United States and Georgia] cooperate fully with respect to the probe of terrorism," the BBC reported.