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The thing I noticed in the various pictures of Putin visiting the survivors in the hospital is that he didn't show any emotion at all. Maybe he was trying to project strength or maybe he only cares about the victims in as far as it will affect his own political position. I wonder how this plays in Russia.

I noticed it, too. I notice that in all pictures of Putin. He has no soul. I happen to think Putin is your classic KGB sociopath, hence my comments earlier to the effect that he betrayed us on the war on terror (or something to that effect). Someone argued that it wasnt a betrayal but that he just didnt want to get involved in Iraq, (or something like that,) I forget the exact give and take but my point was that Bush left that meeting with Putin believing he had an ally ("I looked into his soul...") I'm sure you recall that comment. It turned out, imo, that Putin had no soul, that Russia was as complicit in placating Saddam as the French and the Germans and his reasons for not joining up were the same: corruption, cowardice, lack of humanity.

Saddam was a terrorist threat in his own right, and what he and his sons were doing to his people were well known to all world leaders and any real student of foreign policy. We all knew of Uday's torture chambers and his other son's butchery. CNN certainly knew (talk about sociopathy. Liberal media moral relativism and opportunism at its unbelievable worst.) Putin knew what was going on in this part of the world but he was taking money from Saddam for oil. He was a part of the corruption. Yet he looked Bush right in the eye as if he were an ally.

I have no idea what motivates Putin other than this was an affront to his manhood. That's what I think drives Putin, pure self absorbtion. Because I do not think he cares about his people, I dont think he cares about much except himself. What is in it for himself now, I cant say. To keep his job? I doubt at this point he needs the cash. What do you think motivated this speech? Remnants of the old, "No one steps on the KGB"?

I think your accusation of Putin as just a self-absorbed, out for himself leader is wrong, and based on no proof other than what you feel like saying about him. I saw him patting a child on the head, touching another child in a white sack that appeared to be dead, and the man is also a Russian Orthodox believer (he and Bush discussed their religious inclinations with each other at one of their meetings, I think at Crawford). So don't impugn the man as heartless when you don't have a clue as to what he thinks. I think Putin is for his country, a nationalist, and loves his motherland. He is a Russian before anything else, and I think you are the one being heartless here, about Putin. Give the guy a break. He's got a lot to deal with in the coming days.

I have no idea what motivates Putin other than this was an affront to his manhood.

It could be turned the other way too: I have no idea what motivates you other than pure self-absorbsion. If you can't read the emotions of the Ruskies DON'T confuse them with your own. The truth is - the guy was in SEVERE PAIN. Calling him a sociopath, while keeping silent on horrific events and their perpetrators, amounts to viciousness.