To Terrorize the Terrorists, by Emmanuel Pratt

Sunday, September 10, 2006

After four Russian diplomats were recently kidnapped in Baghdad by Muslim terrorists, many veteran Middle East counter-terrorist experts expect the Russians to act and show their US counterparts how it is done "po-Russki" (the Russian way), which is simply to play the terrorist rules: they terrorize the terrorists.

When in 1980 the Lebanese terrorists kidnapped and murdered a Russian diplomat, the Russians (then the Soviets, which is an irrelevant distinction in these matters, as in many others) quickly found out what organization was responsible for the act, kidnapped a relative of the chief of the gang, and returned him to his family with a week ­ piece by piece. For over a quarter of a century the Russian diplomats enjoyed full immunity in Lebanon and, for one, in the whole of the Middle East. Apparently, now some of the Iraqis have forgotten the Lebanese lesson.

The Russians are angry at the Americans for their ineptitude to retrieve the four diplomats and now say that they will show them how to proceed in these matters. This will not be as easy and smooth as in 1980 in Lebanon, as nowadays there is a potent Iraqi government and a 250,000 strong security personnel. On the other hand, the Russians expect to be given a free hand by the Americans and Coalition (with the usual admonition not to make too much noise). In addition, the Russians have developed a close network of contacts in the Middle East, who may be prepared to do a bit of dirty work for a suitable remuneration. Whatever the case, the Americans in Iraq are ready to take front-row seats at an absorbing show of some Old School counter-terrorism.

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