Posted on 02/24/2005 2:04:23 PM PST by wjersey
Bratislava, Slovakia, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- We may not yet be talking about divorce but the extended honeymoon period between U.S President George W. Bush and his increasingly autocratic Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin came to a definitive end Thursday at a summit between the two leaders in the Slovak capital of Bratislava.
It all happened following the end of bilateral talks when a televised press conference turned into a relentless and devastating assault on Putin's backsliding on democratic reform.
Since global democratization has been made the centerpiece of Bush's second term foreign policy agenda, analysts and politicians in the United States and elsewhere had billed this meeting as the first key test of the American president's credibility.
As Russia analysts James M. Goldgeier and Michael McFaul had put it in a commentary in the current issue of the Weekly Standard:
"If the president neglects to affirm his commitment to freedom with Putin at his side, Bush will be signaling that his words don't count."
So most of us were expecting the issue to be raised, if only in passing.
But no one could have been prepared for what was about to unfold.
While observing diplomatic niceties, President Bush's opening remarks included a pointedly blunt statement of his concern that Russia was not fulfilling "fundamental" democratic principles.
And this was nothing to what President Putin was forced to endure in the subsequent questions, every single one of which focused on democracy.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Putin is a rat and should be treated as one.He looks like one too.
When President Bush said it was true that journalists did get fired in America, but by their editors and not the government, one almost started to feel sorry for President Putin.
Score one for GW.
oops. I didn't mean to post it twice...
"This is fine, but perhaps this will just make him dig in his heels and get more truculent."
I recall similar remarks when Reagan uttered those now famous words "Gorby, dude, tear it down"
http://cfrterrorism.org/groups/hezbollah.html
http://globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2005/iran-050216-337caa73.htm
Up here in Alaska I don't have to waste time fighting that California freeway traffic. This leaves more time for intelligent (if amateur) geopolitical analysis.
Well, you need to be here MORE!
I deny that Russia was the first real test if G.W. meant as he said. The press refuses to acknowledge his successes and would rather set up their own faux benchmark.
If we are to deny the revolutions of freedom (and causes of) sweeping the Globe as proof he means as he says., would not at least our announced alliance with Japan signal a change above and before a press conference with Putin?
I'll confess I'm reluntant to join in the Putin bashing. The Press on both aisles is too eager for the exhibit, and this makes me automatically sympathtic to Putin.
I'm not a sympathizer of what he has done. Putin is reverting to Soviet techniques and his involvement with Ukraine was inexcusable. I'm only aware there are other factors at play here, and while Putin deserves condemnation, I'm not eager to aid others against him for less than admirable motives themselves. The end result of doing so is that their enemy is defeated, making one less obstacle to distract their attention in their attempts to be a counterpart to the U.S.
Russia acts as a counterpart to Europe and China. It isn't in our interests to allow them to sell nukes to the M.E. nor interfere with free elections, but it isn't in our interests to strengthen Europe and China by destroying Russia for them either.
I don't trust Putin, but I trust France, Germany and China far less.
I suspect President Bush was eating, having a beverage, on Air Force One.
You just KNOW he isn't going to eat or drink anything while on THIS TRIP.
No soup for you, Mr. President!
Actually, he was on the way home.
Hey Pooty, want to taste this red snapper for me first ...
"One more point- it's become obvious that the Bush administration cowers before strength and laughs in the face of weakness. "
His silence on China is terribly hypocritical.
The port strike put China in it's place. They don't want any more of W. We got China right where we want them. If he threatened China you would be calling him a warmonger, your not fooling anyone around here.
"Where has that ever been alleged, apart from your post?"
It hasn't been alleged. You'd have to go back in the thread.....read post 43, 55 and 57. It was a joking comment.
"We keep making mince meat of Russian military equipment, training and brainpower. The Chinese aren't even in Russia's league yet."
What about the Sunburn missile, which was apparently a big part of the reason our carriers didn't enter the persian gulf in the iraq invasion?
China and Iran have bought these as well.
I see now. Thanks for the clarification.
You're welcome. It happens to me sometimes too when I'm trying to get caught up on a thread. :)
"If he threatened China you would be calling him a warmonger, your not fooling anyone around here."
You have no idea what I would say. Most people would know that predicting what an unknown person on the internet will say under a given hypothetical political event is useless and foolish.
Troll elsewhere.
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