FOR NINE tense days, not only Russia, but the world, held its breath over the fate of the 118 crew members in the sunken nuclear submarine, the Kursk. In the first few days after the accident, taps from the submarine picked up by rescue vessels on the surface indicated there were survivors. Then all went silent.
On Monday, Norwegian and British divers succeeded in opening a hatch on the wrecked vessel. The sub was flooded, and what everyone feared but hoped against was confirmed -- all 118 crew members were dead.
Even without the flooding, which no one knew had happened until the hatch was opened, survival would have been a miracle over nine days at the bottom of the Barents Sea in cold northern Russia. Oxygen supplies would have been depleted. Sub-zero temperatures, with the power system of the submarine out of operation, would have frozen everything inside.
The global grief over the Kursk tragedy is reflected in the flood of messages of condolence from world leaders. Among those who have sent condolences, almost as soon as the information from the rescue team emerged, was Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the UN, speaking for the world.
The Russian authorities have been criticised at home and abroad over the handling of the crisis. Response was apparently slow by Western standards and outside help was not sought until several days after the vessel sank. The new openness of the traditionally closed Russian society, now struggling with democracy, was reflected in the call by politicians for a commission of enquiry and in the military leaders speaking directly and emotionally to the public.
But the growing popular feeling, which has now reached the Russian public, that technology can solve any problem, is a worrying trend and a source of great pressure on democratic governments.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
