Putin looks bad at home and abroad over sub deaths

A grieving Russia may start remembering that over 2,000 of its young men have already been killed fighting rebels in Chechnya since last year. That campaign has made Putin popular, but the tide may turn against him as the fighting and killing continue.

Abroad, the submarine disaster highlighted the unreliability of Russia’s arsenals. And Western leaders are likely to be concerned over the initial air of Soviet-style secrecy which shrouded the accident and the initial unwillingness to accept outside help.

"The reaction to this accident by the overall Russian leadership, the military as well, but Putin in particular, was catastrophic," former German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel told South West German Radio.

"His picture, his image has been more than tarnished. I think it’s fair to say that the security partnership between Russia and the West has been damaged," Kinkel added.

Putin stayed on holiday at a Black Sea resort in the first days of the nine-day-old crisis. He made a first brief comment on Wednesday. On Friday, painfully aware of his glowing suntan amidst the looming tragedy, he defended his military and his own decision not to go to the site of the disaster.

He eventually returned to Moscow early on Sunday and later in the day showed the first signs of emotion, saying the rescue operation would continue and appealing for hope. By then most of the world knew there was virtually no chance left for the crew to survive.

For a leader whose popularity is largely built on success in restoring Russia’s pride, based on the feeling of National strength rather than economic well-being, the disaster is a particularly heavy blow.

Alexander Rutskoi, once a vice-president under Yeltsin and now governor of the Kursk region after which the sub was named, said Russia was "losing not a submarine, it was losing a National idea".

Putin has paid particular attention to his military, taking a recent ride in a submarine, flying a supersonic jet to Chechnya when things seemed to be going wrong and presiding over the preparation of a new military doctrine.

He might be feeling all his efforts have been undermined by the inability of the top brass, who he consistently supported throughout the crisis, to save the crew.

The realisation that it took Russia four days to accept foreign help, compared to less than 48 hours for foreign rescuers to penetrate the Kursk, is likely to add to Putin’s humiliation.

"We are unequalled in the means of destruction," said Russia’s Novaya Gazeta weekly. "The problems is with the means of rescue."Many see vestige of the past
While enjoying popularity at home, Putin has also won praiseabroad for his negotiating skills and composure.

But liberals at home suspect him of authoritarian trends,saying it would be hard for him to shed the instincts drummed into him during his KGB training.

According to some foreign commentators, the behaviour ofPutin and his top brass during the crisis will have done nothing to dispel these concerns.

"From the very beginning, it showed that the mentality ofthe Russian leaders, military and civilian, starting with Vladimir Putin, is still profoundly anchored in the defects of leaden Sovietism," said the French newspaper Le Monde.