The end of the affair?

摘要

The strategy was reminiscent of the re-sponse to the Kursk submarine disaster: minimise the damage, resist scrutiny, blame the West. Addressing the nation after the Beslan massacre, President Vladimir Putin conjured up a spectre of manipulative foreign powers exploiting terrorism to weaken Russia. Several Europeans and Americans have since criticised Mr Putin over Chechnya, and over his grab for more power. Mr Putin's fraternal response to September nth had persuaded optimists that the dream of bringing Russia closer to the West might be realised. In the past two weeks, it has looked as chimerical as ever.