First, Al Qaeda and Chechen struggle. A few hits... http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/6042-5.cfm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2372971.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1862515.stm Al Haig: Al-Qaeda Takes Priority Over Iraq ... Chechnya and al-Qaeda. Q: But you have quite a few al-Qaeda Arabs fighting the Russian "infidel" in Chechnya. A: I think that's questionable. ... http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/1/8/195507.shtml (NewsMax, Rightist website.) And, FWIW (!!!) from a far right Serbian nationalist website, "Bin Laden and the Balkans." Written by the Centre for Peace in the Balkans, a "left" group. http://nationalism.org/sf/Articles/a177.html http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/ladin.htm (Fed. of American Scientists, founded by son of I.F. Stone, Jeremy.)
State Dept. or Pentagon or NSC officials meet with Mr. Akhmed Zakayev, a Chechen jihadist official in the last few yrs? http://www.google.com/search?q=Akhmed+Zakayev
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Zbig Brzezenski leads along with long-time Fritz Mondale college, Max Kampelman, and Al Haig, The American Committee on Chechnya. http://www.peaceinchechnya.org/about.htm http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/6320-16.cfm . ("Guru Of Sovietology Doubts That Russia Will Get "Free Hands" In Chechnya or be Able to Prevent NATO Expansion.") http://www.counterpunch.org/brzezinski2.html http://www.russiajournal.com/weekly/article.shtml?ad=6387 http://memberah.tripod.com/chechnya-index.htm Zbig, Max K. and co. wrote a letter to the Danish gov't. http://www.peaceinchechnya.org/ to not extradite Mr. Akhmed Zakayev, a Chechen jihadist official. Co-Chairs Oppose Zakayev Extradition in Letter to Danish Ambassador Washington, DC: October 31, 2002 12:35 PM EST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Swift, (202) 296-5101 x134
October 30, 2002
His Excellency Ulrik Andreas Federspiel Royal Danish Embassy 3200 Whitehaven St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008
Your Excellency:
We have learned that Danish authorities, at the request of Russian officials, arrested and may even extradite Mr. Akhmed Zakayev. We know Mr. Zakayev and have worked with him. His dedicated espousal of a peaceful resolution to the Chechen conflict has made him a crucial interlocutor in efforts to bring an end to the war. This August, for example, Mr. Zakayev met in Liechtenstein with Boris Yeltsin's former national security adviser Ivan Rybkin, Russian Duma Member Aslambek Aslakhanov and former Russian Duma Speaker Ruslan Khasbulatov to negotiate a settlement framework.
Mr. Zakayev's extradition would seriously undermine those crucial endeavors. Moreover, it could establish a precedent for extraditing any ethnic Chechen accused by Moscow of being a terrorist-a precedent with broad and disturbing human rights implications.
While we recognize the difficulty the Danish government may face in distinguishing secular nationalists from potential militants, it is important to avoid painting Mr. Zakayev and others with the broad brush of international terrorism. Failure to protect and support moderates of his ilk will only strengthen extremist elements in Chechnya and further perpetuate a tragic and potentially genocidal war.
Sincerely yours,
Zbigniew Brzezinski Alexander M. Haig, Jr. Max M. Kampelman http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2002/11/04/012.html
Michael Pugliese