Cuba termed the decision, announced on the eve of Russian president Vladimir Putin's meeting with U.S. president George Bush at a Shanghai summit, a "special gift" and a "concession to the U.S. government constituting a serious threat to Cuba's security." Such a move, Havana said in an October 17 statement, was particularly untimely at a moment when Washington has unleashed a war on Afghanistan and "the U.S. government's stance is more aggressive and warmongering than ever" (see full text of statement on page 7).

At the October 20-21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shanghai, Putin reiterated his support for the U.S.-British war on Afghanistan and the imperialist powers' threat to carry out other military attacks around the world in the name of "fighting terrorism." The Russian president also moved closer to accepting Washington's plans to develop a nuclear missile shield.

"We have announced our direct support of the United States," Putin declared in Shanghai, with the eagerness of a dog jumping for a biscuit from his master. He and Bush issued a "Joint Statement on Counterterrorism" that condemned the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, supported action "to bring the perpetrators to justice," and backed Washington's goal of overthrowing the government of Afghanistan--terming it an "international center of terrorism and extremism"--and installing a pre-approved regime.

Bush praised Moscow for opening Russian airspace to U.S. "search and rescue" operations in Afghanistan and sharing "intelligence" information with U.S. spy agencies.

Putin has backed the Anglo-American war in Central Asia from the start. Moscow is eager to gain "peace" from U.S. imperialism, boost its leverage in Europe, and deal blows to the Chechens and other oppressed Muslim peoples in the former Soviet Union whom it labels "terrorists."

Putin's decision to close the Electronic Radar Center in Lourdes came two days before his meeting with Bush. Putin at the time also said his government had decided to close down the Cam Ranh naval base in Vietnam.

The Cuban government, however, said that the agreement on the base "has not been canceled, since Cuba has not given its approval."

Moscow's move had the desired effect. Bush hailed it as part of "building a new, cooperative" relationship between the two governments.

In his meeting with Putin, Bush pressed his administration's determination to build an antiballistic missile shield, one that Washington could use as a club against governments it tars as "rogue states" and other adversaries. U.S. officials told the media Bush is prepared to go ahead with these plans without Moscow unless a deal is struck by January. The U.S. president also reiterated his proposal that Washington and Moscow sharply cut their nuclear arsenals. At a joint news conference, Bush declared they had made "progress" toward these goals.

While Putin has previously stated his opposition to Bush's proposal to scrap the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty, he said at the news conference that "we do have understanding that we can reach agreement" to alter the pact in order to allow Washington to continue developing and testing antimissile weapons. In mid-November Putin will be going to Washington and to Bush's Texas ranch to pursue further negotiations.

The war in Central Asia overshadowed discussion of economic matters at the summit, which was supposed to focus on the slumping capitalist economy in Asia and the Pacific. The 20 governments represented at the meeting, including China, signed a statement that, while avoiding direct mention of the U.S.-British assault on Afghanistan, gave a green light to the imperialist moves to "suppress all forms of terrorist acts."
 
 
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