Putin Offers Hand to Bush in U.S. Election

yahoo.com ^ | 10-18-04 | Denis Dyomkin

[SheLion]

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin, siding with President Bush two weeks before the U.S. election, said Monday that armed attacks in Iraq were staged by "international terrorism" out to block his re-election.

"The attacks of international terrorism in Iraq are directed not only at international coalition forces but at President Bush personally," said Putin, speaking in the Tajik capital.

"International terrorism has given itself the goal of causing maximum damage to Bush in the election battle, the goal of blocking the re-election of Bush for a second presidential term," he told a news conference.

Putin's comments, ahead of the Nov. 2 election in which Democratic challenger John Kerry and Bush are fighting a close race, seemed a reward to the U.S. President for his personal friendship and valuable support.

The strong support he enjoys from Bush since quickly backing the U.S. war on terrorism following the Sept. 11 hijacked plane attacks in the United States has helped him withstand other criticism from the United States and the West over his democratic record at home.

Despite making clear he wanted to see Bush returned to the White House, the pragmatic Putin carefully balanced his comments by adding: "We will, of course, respect any choice by the American people."

Last June, Putin made clear for the first time he would like to see Bush back in the White House, accusing the Democrats of hypocrisy for attacking the U.S. leader on Iraq, saying the Clinton administration had been responsible for the 1999 air attacks on Yugoslavia.

 

[gunnygail]

Hedging his bets. I bet he would like to go back a few years and ENDORSE Bush's plan to get rid of Saddam vice vetoing it!!!

[Flightdeck]

First Poland, then Italy, now Russia. I thought foreign leaders secretly hoped Kerry would win? That's what he told us at any rate.

[Mike Bates]

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[Elkiejg]

he would like to see Bush back in the White House, accusing the Democrats of hypocrisy for attacking the U.S. leader on Iraq, saying the Clinton administration had been responsible for the 1999 air attacks on Yugoslavia.

WHOOEE - putting it to old Bubba!!

[gunnygail]

Bubba is also responsible for Waco, Ruby Ridge, OKC bombing, USS Cole, 2 US embassies, Khobar Towers, Mogadishu, and NUMEROUS other bombings overseas directed at US.

[cynicom]

Russia is militarily and economically prostrate. The weakest they have been in a hundred years. With an 800 pound gorilla living next door, Putin understands that the US with Bush as president is the only friend they have that can keep the gorilla in check.

[DSBull]

Don't forget the ever increasing rise in STD's amongst whitehouse interns.

[gunnygail]

Probably the hospital where he's at as well.

[Chgogal]

Shootin Putin does manage to surprise me every now and then.

[VOR78]

And who could forget this one:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3819057.stm

[MetalHeadConservative35]

putin obviously has some respect for bush,and thank god

Since Beslan id hate to be in the scope of Ivan The Bear (Russia)

Lets see what happens after Nov 2nd,with some hope and luck the Russians and U.S can take the leash of the the dogs of war and show these raghead bastards no mercy!

[RedRepublic]

I'm sick of the bias media. Such an influential comment (supporting Bush) like this is, of course, not shown on TV on newspapers.
Lately, John Howard's' reelection and his comments supporting Bush were not shown either.

[SE Mom]

I tend to agree with you- but am wondering what the history is of foreign leaders endorsing candidates before U.S. elections..

[July 4th]

Another FOREIGN LEADER for Bush.

[PhiKapMom]

Bump to your post! Great to see Putin speak out -- guess you could say he is not one of the world leaders Kerry spoke to through Clinton!

[SheLion]

I keep losing access to Free Republic this morning. The site went down for me right after I posted this thread, and that is why I haven't been answering.

I hope FR doesn't go down for me again.

[SheLion]

First Poland, then Italy, now Russia. I thought foreign leaders secretly hoped Kerry would win? That's what he told us at any rate.

I'm so sick of FnKerry's spin and lies that he makes me want to throw up. He can't talk about the issues. All he can do is bash Bush and he is getting uglier every day.

[SheLion]

WHOOEE - putting it to old Bubba!!

Ain't that the truth. That tickled me so. :)