Political Quotes

“yesterday's headline was ``Russia pounds Chechens as election truce unravels.'' Today's headline tells us the ``Chechen war escalates once more.'' Report after report details a growing number of casualties. Many people, both military and civilian, are being killed each day. No one seems to know exactly how many but the total is growing. So is the number of refugees trying to stay one step ahead of the fighting and destruction; moving like the tide, first here, then there. Fleeing, leaving the fighting and danger behind only to reencounter it up ahead. The Russian military has taken off the gloves now that Boris Yeltsin has been safely reelected. With tough talking ex-General Alexander Lebed in his corner, President Yeltsin has unleashed an awesome array of brutal military might on tiny independent-minded Chechnya. The apparent goal is to crush the life out of any desire for independence, no matter what the price. The most recent down payment was the death of Russian Maj. Gen. Nikolai Skripnik and a number of other soldiers on one side and guerrilla fighters and innocent civilians on the other. The numbers grown each day now. And no one seems to have the will to stop this carnage. Certainly no one in our White House. This administration continues to sit on its hands regarding Chechnya. It has not spoken out to condemn the brutality and the havoc. The Clinton policy on Chechnya has been to remain silent. Deathly silent.…”