I will comment only on Mr Markov's charge that America has adhered to double standards. Yes, there has indeed been a double standard. President George W Bush has stood by while Russia has committed major war crimes in Chechnya, and embraces "Vladimir" as his friend. The disgraceful aspect of this friendship is that the deaths of an estimated 200,000 (plus) Chechens and persons of Russian descent who resided in Chechnya; the ravaging of the entire territory of Chechnya; and the multiple crimes against humanity committed there by the Russian military, have not resulted in appropriate condemnation by western leaders because of a politics of expediency. This is the double standard which ought to concern western electorates. Consider, by comparison, the similar conduct of "Chemical Ali" in Iraq, who murdered some 200,000 Kurds - he is now in US custody and is to be tried for crimes against humanity. If America had awarded Russia the recognition its conduct merits, it would perhaps have given Markov something more substantial to whine about. I predict a great future for Sergei Markov in Russian politics - he has the qualities required for high office in the Putin government. I would like to add that President Aslan Maskhadov is not a terrorist, since he is a legitimate politician elected by the Chechen people in a free and fair election, and he has always condemned terrorism. Unlike those who defame him he is an honest man. Jeremy Putley 2 November 2004