The United States should not condone Russia’s violence

In a hostage situation, the worst-case scenario involves both the hostages and the hostage… In a hostage situation, the worst-case scenario involves both the hostages and the hostage takers being killed.

According to an Oct. 27 article in “The Washington Post” on Saturday night, Russian special forces stormed a Moscow theater where approximately 800 people were held captive, killing 50 Chechen militants and an estimated 117 of the hostages with gunfire or gas, respectively. Many of the surviving 750 were taken to the hospital, with more than 200 in critical condition.

Moreover, the international community – including the United States – seems to approve of these actions. Simple calculation shows that the casualty rate was inordinately high, even given the perilous situation. With one in eight hostages killed and more critically injured, the United States should not offer its support, especially after examining the specifics of the situation.

The exact details of the incident are still forthcoming. Shots were reportedly fired from both sides, followed by chaos and a high casualty rate.

What is known is that the raid occurred during negotiations between the militants, a Chechen intermediary and U.S. officials. The former’s actions are the latest addition to the on-going fight between Russia and the separatist country, and any willingness to speak to negotiators should be seen as progress.

Russia’s unwillingness to honor or even acknowledge these negotiations demonstrates that violence will be the only means the Chechens have at their disposal. Russian President Vladimir Putin brought in a stream of negotiators, which led to the release of a few hostages. But staging this raid while the Chechen rebels spoke to the U.S. embassy about freeing three American hostages undermined this process.

Also, this showed that Russia operated with little regard to U.S. authority over its citizenry, despite President Bush’s words commending Russian actions. The whereabouts of the Americans are unknown.

During the 57-hour standoff, the rebels killed two hostages, while the latest reports show that gas pumped into the building by Russian special forces killed 117 more. Officials refused to identify the gas used to sedate the Chechens and their hostages, even to doctors treating the patients. Doctors’ statements indicate that all but two of the hostages killed in the raid died because of the gas, and that several of the Chechen militants were shot and killed after the gas rendered them unconscious.

Obviously, the Chechens’ actions should not be praised. Though their demands involved an end to war in Chechnya and withdrawal of Russian troops from the area, they had shown a readiness to kill for these ends. Many of the rebels, including about 15 women claiming to be war widows, had explosives strapped to their bodies. A central bomb was planted in the building as well.

Still, one of the hostages stated that, despite their threats, the Chechens’ goal was not murder, but suicide. “One of the Chechens was saying, ‘you will leave this hall, and we will die,'” she said.

Early Sunday morning, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said that, “this is a reminder of the risk to the free world that terrorists present.” In the same article, “The Washington Post” reported that the U.S. State Department agreed with Putin’s characterization of the Chechens as terrorists.

But disapproval of one side does not mean acceptance of the other. The United States should denounce Russia’s actions, especially exposing more than 800 of its citizens to a gas that the government is unwilling to discuss, and do so swiftly.

Instead of viewing this tragic incident as the continuation of a long and inhumane battle between government and secessionist forces, the United States’ statements link Russia’s assault to the war on terror. Doing so gives this operation a legitimacy of sorts that it neither earned nor warranted.

The international community should condemn Russia’s reckless actions and blatant disregard done on the pretense of fighting terror. If the United States is to have any moral high-ground, it must identify institutional agents of terror, as well as those operating outside the law.

The United States should offer condolences, not congratulations, to the Russian people and condemn purveyors of violence. The U.S. government’s reactions should reflect the gravity of the situation, not its political allegiances and alert Russia that it cannot hide murder behind the shield of governmental authority.

Columnist Sydney Bergman can be reached at sbergman@pittnews.com.