Russia's new post-Beslan attitude

What should the world's response to terrorism be? This is an issue that has been debated ever since the Sept. 11 attacks. However, until recently, very few countries around the world understood how the United States felt and why it wanted to pursue terrorists the way it did. The recent attacks against a Russian school has served as a wake-up call not only to Russia but to the rest of the world as well. Terrorists are heartless killers who should be hunted down like the cowards they are, regardless of whose feelings get hurt.\nOn Sept. 1, 26 Chechen extremists stormed a school in Beslan, Russia. Their goals were not exactly clear, but their effect is. Russian citizens would not tolerate the deaths of more than 350 of their citizens (many of whom were children). Action needed to be taken.\nAccording to www.pravda.ru, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin is preparing to do just that. In an article entitled "Russia Prepares to Strike Back Against Terrorists," Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov said a special mobilization plan was being prepared. "We are facing the war that international terrorists have declared on us. We need a mobilization plan, which would specify particular actions taken on all power levels." He went on to say that such a plan would require changes in Russian law.\nSpecifically what changes were made clear in another article entitled "Russia considers death penalty issue to punish terrorists." This article detailed a proposal by Aleksey Ostrovsky, a member of Russia's Federal Assembly delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. This proposal would establish terrorist acts as separate from other kinds of criminal acts, and therefore make those who commit them eligible for the death penalty under Russian law. Despite the logic of this proposal, Russia's Duma (legislature) seems unlikely to pass it. Valery Grebennikov, the first deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Criminal, Civil and Arbitration Law, said such a proposal would violate agreements Russia made when it joined the convention on the Council of Europe (which forbids execution in ALL circumstances). In other words, Russia has put its self-determination and right to respond to vicious attacks in the hands of others.\nWhat exactly would Europe have Russia do? Like the United Nations before it, the European Union supports little in the way of concrete action against terrorists. In a speech given Sept. 15, EU External Relations Commissioner Christopher Patten said, "There are two principles that guide cooperation with Russia on terrorism. First, that it is equally, if not more, important to work together to prevent terrorism, by which I mean addressing its root causes. Second, that human rights are paramount and must be respected -- the fight against terrorism does not justify or excuse the violation of human rights." \nRespect for human rights is needed in the fight against terror, but the commissioner represents the basic problem with Europe. European society (with the exception of Spain) has not had to deal with a Beslan or Sept. 11 of its own. Unfortunately, European leaders, including Spain's Prime Minister, believe that humanitarian and diplomatic solutions are enough to fight terrorism.\nThe unfortunate fact is not everyone can be negotiated with. Right after Sept. 11, many said the president should have negotiated with the Taliban to give up Osama bin Laden. Right before the Iraq war, many said the president should have negotiated a truce with Saddam Hussein. Now people are telling Putin that he should negotiate with those responsible for the murder of more than 350 of his fellow citizens.\nIf the US, Russia, Israel and all democratic countries around the world are to maintain their ways of life, they must hunt down these killers wherever they are. The world can no longer afford to view itself through Europe's rose-colored glasses. The best advice Bush, Putin, Ariel Sharon and the world can be given in the war on terror comes from Russell Crowe's character in "Gladiator:" "At my signal, unleash hell"