#8
Vremya MN
October 17, 2001
A WAR FOR AN AUDIENCE
Interview with the former chief of the Soviet Foreign Intelligence Service
Author: Sergei Guk
[from WPS Monitoring Agency, www.wps.ru/e_index.html]
LEONID SHEBARSHIN THINKS THE US OPERATION AGAINST AFGHANISTAN IS A SERIOUS THREAT FOR RUSSIA. THE CONFLICT WILL NOT DEVELOP INTO A GLOBAL WAR. RUSSIA AND THE US ARE PARTNERS, BUT SHEBARSHIN DOESN'T THINK THEY SHOULD BECOME ALLIES.
Another phase of the counter-terrorist operation in Afghanistan has begun. We asked Leonid Shebashin, former chief of the Soviet Foreign Intelligence Service, to comment on the activities of the anti-Taliban coalition and possible counter-strikes by terrorists.
Question: It seems that international terrorism has turned into a monster which can only be defeated by the US and Britain...
Leonid Shebarshin: Firstly, it is not clear who was behind the terrorist attacks in the US. Over a month has passed, but the US has not shown convincing evidence of Osama bin Laden's guilt. Secondly, the Taliban has said they are ready to extradite bin Laden if the US provides evidence of his guilt. I don't know why the US rejects this reasonable proposal. Osama bin Laden has become No. 1 villain, a priori. It seems that someone has been preparing him for this role for several years. The US has created a myth that this mysterious person is behind all acts of terrorism.
Question: Why did bin Laden, who was created by the CIA, abandon his masters?
Leonid Shebarshin: This is an interesting question. I don't think there are any reasonable answers.
Question: The Oklahoma City bombing was organized by a US citizen, not an Arab. Extremist right groups have become more active in the US. Why doesn't the CIA investigate this?
Leonid Shebarshin: The target was chosen beforehand, and Muslims became guilty of horrific terrorist acts before the dust had settled.
Question: However, President George W. Bush repeatedly said that he does not blame the Islamic world...
Leonid Shebarshin: There are many reasonable people in the US administration, who advised the president that he should not consider a quarter of the world's population to be barbarians. However, all reports have a clear anti-Islamic nature. The media has divided the world into civilized (the West) and barbarian (the Muslim world) nations. I think this propaganda has damaged social psychology. Law enforcement agencies have forgotten about local extremist groups (David's Sword, Texas Separatists, National Alliance, and more). The US leadership has chosen Al Qaida as the main culprit.
Question: Don't you think that the US is fighting the consequences, not the cause. New fanatics ready to die for justice continue to appear, as long as there is a huge alienated area of the world, where misery and famine rule.
Leonid Shebarshin: I think this is one of the reasons. Muslim countries were the West's colonies. The majority of these have many socio-economic problems, except a few lucky countries which have rich oil fields. Another reason is the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Question: Is the policy of the Russian leadership, which has supported the US, appropriate from the viewpoint of Russia's national security? Is it possible that Moscow agreed to support the US in exchange for writing off part of its foreign debt and relaxing criticism over Chechnya?
Leonid Shebarshin: I don't think decisions were based on such mercenary reasons. I think Russia's position is optimal. The world has declared war on international terrorism. It would be incorrect to say that Russia does not participate in this war. The problem of terrorism is very relevant for Russia. However, the Chechnya factor has played an important role. Russia could not agree with the West's position: dividing terrorists into good Chechen guerrillas and bad Arab mercenaries.
Question: Don't you think terrorists are prepared to do anything, after a series of anthrax outbreaks in the US? Is this dangerous for Russia?
Leonid Shebarshin: We should take into consideration all potential threats as long as the operation in Chechnya continues. There are many mysterious aspects about anthrax in the US. The US judiciary has said that there is no evidence of Al Qaida's involvement in this terrorist act.
Question: Why did the Taliban prefer to cooperate with the Al Jazira TV channel? Some people think that the TV company has become a bridge between the Taliban and the US. There are rumors that bin Laden uses this channel for sending encoded messages to his accomplices.
Leonid Shebarshin: The ocean of information noise is aimed at satisfying people curiosity. People receive scanty bits of reliable information. The US could jam Al Jazira. As far as encoded messages are concerned, this is a story for the public.
Question: What awaits the rest of the world and Russia in the near future?
Leonid Shebarshin: As far as Russia is concerned, it's business as usual. The US is interested in cooperating with us. Washington needs us to combat international terrorism and solve other problems. I don't like all the talk of a war between civilizations. The US will strengthen its positions in regions rich in oil. The US will prove its leading role, because any structures in any country can be considered as terrorist organizations and attacked. I don't see a prospect of a global war, or any disastrous consequences for Russia. Russia and the US are partners, but I don't think we should become allies. We must take care of our own national interests.
(Translated by Alexander Dubovoi)
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