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 ...
This is fine, but perhaps this will just make him dig in his heels and get more truculent.
Putin looked like he was sucking on lemons sitting next to Bush.
I can't wait to see how the NY Slimes characterizes this press conference. Wanna bet it won't seem anything like this?
heard a good analysis today......kick Putin in the a** behind closed doors and use sugar instead of vinegar in front of the Press so he doesn't lose face.......that's seems like a sound strategy to me.........
Good grief..I watched that news conference and afterwards the talking heads did not have this take on it as "humiliation" of Putin in any form or fashion!
bttt
Plus he had to meet him on neutral turf, that is, Bush didn't go to Russia.
Good move! Antagonize another country and do it in the most injurious way to their leader's pride. Who is Bush impressing with this act? American don't really care about Russia. Is this a desperate attempt to win the favor of Europeans. Neocons put him up to it? I'd like to get a better handle on it.
Why be democratic when it's so much easier to be authoritarian!
W is rapidly becoming Reagan II
God Bless You W~!
One more point- it's become obvious that the Bush administration cowers before strength and laughs in the face of weakness. This is why we gave Mommar nothing when Libya disarmed voluntarily but refuse to take action in N. Korea or Iran. Further, China has arguably worse "democractic values" than Russia, but they are a surging economic powerhouse and we don't want to pick a fight with them. So you'll never hear Bush condemn Hu Jintao during a press conference like this. But for Russia, which is in economic shambles, Bush finds it easy to kick them around. All this does is give our enemies one message- threaten the US credibly and you have it made.
He did not look happy at all. Maybe that's just his natural look, the guy looks like a beady eyed rat.
Bush was intimdated.
It's all so confusing.
"It will also be interesting to see whether this summit will weaken his credibility further at home."
Ask and ye shall receive.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/international/24TEXT-BUSH.html?pagewanted=1
Putin always looks like the KGB agent he is......no emotion
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