Posted by Greg Stone at September 12, 2003 05:18 AM | TrackBackRussia's press marked the anniversary of September 11 yesterday by regretting that Washington squandered the outpouring of international goodwill after the suicide attacks by launching the hotly-contested invasion of Iraq.
Some newspapers said both Europe and Russia have become confused by President George W. Bush's global ambitions after initially rallying behind the United States in a genuine outpouring of grief two years ago.
"A year ago, it seemed that our goals were simple, clear, obvious and honorable. But today it seems that one year ago, we were wrong," the authoritative Izvestia newspaper observed in a special commentary.
"Two years ago international terrorists declared war on the United States and thus on the entire civilized world," Izvestia said.
But Izvestia noted a global coalition that once formed behind the United States has since splintered after Washington ignored other nations' strong reservations over the need to attack Iraq.