<HTML>In a message dated 1/24/2003 2:09:21 AM Pacific Standard Time, chrisd@russiajournal.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said the United States denounces anyone who kills civilians for political aims. He stressed, however, that the United States is counting on Russia to respect the rights of Chechen citizens who are not involved in terrorist activities. </BLOCKQUOTE> TOO tempting to pass up, AGAIN: when will Armitage being denouncing his boss on account of civilian deaths in Iraq caused by the sanctions? And there's always some evenhandedness in the Israeli-Palestinian situation. <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> Mr. Armitage, who is in Moscow for talks with Russian officials, made the comments Thursday, during a live radio interview with Echo Moskvy. The U.S. diplomat also said Russia is doing a good job in guarding its nuclear facilities in order to prevent weapons proliferation. </BLOCKQUOTE> Gee, I HOPE so. Since Russian efforts in this area are heavily funded by US taxpayers, I HOPE we are getting something for our money. Somewhere in this comment, some possible sarcastic comments about the non-proliferation regime are lurking, but they get to lurk a little while longer. DoreneC </HTML>