| Russia is launching an investigation into
| |
| | are also questions as to how and why it
|
| the Navy's response to the stranding of a
| |
| | happened a second time. This month marks
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| mini-sub at the bottom of the Pacific
| |
| | the five-year anniversary of the sinking
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| that was rescued Sunday with British
| |
| | of the nuclear submarine Kursk with 118
|
| help. The memory of the Kursk nuclear
| |
| | hands on board.
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| submarine accident five years ago, in
| |
| | Leading independent military analyst
|
| which 118 people died is still fresh, and
| |
| | Pavel Felgenhauer tells VOA that, unlike
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| the government is drawing criticism for
| |
| | in the Kursk tragedy, Russian officials
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| its handling of the rescue.
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| | this time called for outside help in
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| Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov
| |
| | time. But still, he says the main lesson
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| Monday visited the seven people who were
| |
| | of the Kursk has yet to be learned, and
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| rescued from the mini-sub Sunday, after
| |
| | that, he says, is that Russia must have
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| three days stranded on the ocean floor
| |
| | an adequate search and rescue service of
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| off Russia's far-eastern coast, and only
| |
| | its own.
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| hours, officials say, before they would
| |
| | "There was a lot of talk, but nothing
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| have run out of oxygen.
| |
| | really improved operationally," said Mr.
|
| Mr. Ivanov commended the sailors for
| |
| | Felgenhauer. "Again, right now, there is
|
| their bravery, and said the Russian Navy
| |
| | a lot of talk, but no one can be sure
|
| would have all the technical equipment
| |
| | that this talk will transform into real,
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| and material it needs in the future.
| |
| | adequate action."
|
| Later, addressing reporters in the
| |
| | Until that lesson is learned, Mr.
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| Russian Far East, he said President
| |
| | Felgenhauer adds, Russia will be, as he
|
| Vladimir Putin had ordered a full-scale
| |
| | put it, "hopelessly helpless." He also
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| investigation of the incident off the
| |
| | said he holds out little hope for this
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| Kamchatka Peninsula.
| |
| | latest official probe.
|
| In comments broadcast on Russian
| |
| | "The problem is, it's going to be a
|
| television, Mr. Ivanov says the expert
| |
| | closed military investigation," he said.
|
| commission will examine thoroughly the
| |
| | "We will not know what they determine. It
|
| actions of fleet forces and defense
| |
| | will all be covered with a cloak of
|
| ministry officials. He also said that the
| |
| | secrecy. There will be no parliamentary
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| Russian Navy's second-in-command,
| |
| | open inquiries, there will be nothing
|
| Vladimir Masorin, would lead the
| |
| | really published, and, basically, I
|
| investigation of how the small submarine
| |
| | believe, the navy and the military will
|
| came to be trapped under water for three
| |
| | do their best to sort of sweep it all
|
| days.
| |
| | under the carpet."
|
| A British underwater rescue vehicle
| |
| | The Russian press was equally critical
|
| helped lift the sub to the surface on
| |
| | Monday. The Gazeta daily said on its
|
| Sunday, and all seven sailors on board
| |
| | front page that no one had learned the
|
| were rushed to the hospital. There they
| |
| | lessons from the Kursk. The newspaper
|
| were placed in cardiac care, due to
| |
| | went on to say that, only when the
|
| hypothermia and hypoxia, and are expected
| |
| | situation was near critical, did the
|
| to remain under close watch for three
| |
| | navy's top leadership ask for outside
|
| days.
| |
| | help.
|
| The sailors' close brush with death has
| |
| | "It wasn't our victory," wrote another
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| many in Russia asking why it was
| |
| | popular daily, Moskovsky Komsomolets.
|
| necessary to ask for foreign help. There
| |
| |
|
