No matter under what excuses, the US recent announcement of willingness to "possibly meet again" with Chechen separatists is indeed an inharmonious tone demanding worldwide condemnation. What message does this send to those who support the Chechen terrorists who killed 338 people in a deadly school hostage siege in south Russia's Beslan? 

"We do have a policy that says we will meet with (Chechen) political officials and leaders who have different points of view," US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on Tuesday.

Despite his reiteration of the US solidarity with Russia in its fight against terrorists, Boucher also said Moscow should find a political solution to its conflict with Chechen separatists, who have been proven to be behind a series of terrorist attacks in Russia, including downing two passenger jets last month which killed 90 people.

While Russia and the rest of the world remain in deep shock and mourning over those people killed in the inhumane terrorist activities of last week, the United States is sending a dangerous signal.

Moscow warned Boucher's announcement could damage its relations with Washington.

"We think this statement is inappropriate," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. "These sorts of statements do not help the development of Russia-US relations and our union in an anti-terror coalition."

"We resolve our problems ourselves and there's no need to search for an American route to political normalization in Chechnya," he said.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin severely criticized those suggesting that he meet with Chechen hardliners.

"Why don't you meet (al-Qaeda leader) Osama bin Laden, invite him to Brussels or the White House and engage in talks, ask him what he wants and give it to him so he leaves you in peace? Why don't you do that?" Putin challenged in an interview with foreign journalists on Monday.

Russia's resolve to counter terrorists should receive understanding and support like that received by United States in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

Following the devastating events in his own land, US President George W. Bush once told the world that they were either on the side of the United States or on the side of terrorists.

When saying his administration will possibly meet with Chechen separatists, which is essentially equivalent to showing leniency to terrorists, is Bush at all conscious of which side he is on?

The US stance merely demonstrates its different standards on the terrorists threatening its homeland and those threatening others.

(China Daily September 10, 2004)