Posted on 08/19/2005 4:09:22 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
President Vladimir Putin (file photo) (CTK) Russian President Vladimir Putin called yesterday for a timetable for pulling foreign troops out of Iraq. The Russian leader said many Iraqis view the foreign troops as "occupiers" and suggested the withdrawal will encourage insurgents to abandon violence in favor of contributing to the creation of the state. The United States was quick to reject his call, saying it is still too early for a pullout.
Moscow, 19 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Speaking to reporters in the Black Sea resort of Sochi after a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah, Putin first reiterated his call for an international conference on Iraq.
Putin disapproves of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and insists such a conference might help bring peace to the strife-torn country.
Then the Russian president went one step further. He said it is imperative to draw up a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq.
“We deem it necessary to work out a timetable for the gradual withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq," Putin said. "Many Iraqis, we know this well, still consider these forces to be occupiers."
Encouraging Iraqi insurgents to take part in their country’s political process, he added, is another argument in favor of a swift pullout.
“Resolving this task will enable a significant part of the armed Iraqi resistance to be brought into the process of creating a state," Putin said.
President George W. Bush has consistently rebuffed international calls to set a schedule for withdrawing the 138,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. Putin's plea was no exception.
A few hours after the Russian president's statement, U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told a news briefing in Washington that Iraq was not yet ready for a withdrawal of foreign troops.
"I think [U.S.] President [George W.] Bush has spoken very clearly on our views on the issue of security assistance to the Iraqis," McCormack said. "As Iraqis stand up [increase] their capabilities, we and the multinational forces will be able to stand down [withdraw]."
McCormack also suggested the United States had little intention to hold an international conference on Iraq by the end of the year, as Putin proposed.
"We did, recently, have an international conference that was organized in Brussels, which had great attendance from around the world, from around the region, from Europe -- there was a delegation from Russia there, I believe, as well -- in which countries came together to express support for Iraq," McCormack said.
Putin has openly opposed the Iraq war. But this is the first time he has made such a clear-cut statement on the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq.
Putin’s statement comes just days after Russia carried out military exercises in the Barents Sea during which new intercontinental ballistic missiles were tested.
Yevgenii Volk, a political analyst and the director of Moscow's Heritage Foundation think thank, said both events indicate Putin might be trying to gain more influence in world affairs by flexing his country's military muscle.
“It is significant that the declaration was made directly after the Northern Fleet’s military exercises where, whatever people might say, scenarios of an atomic war with the U.S. were developed," Volk said. "This [declaration] is clearly a display of strength, and Putin is showing that Russia’s military power must and can translate into the strengthening of its political influence, no matter where the area of conflict is located.”
Russia and China also launched unprecedented joint military exercises yesterday amid U.S. concerns that the two giants might form a military alliance.
Well stated!
"What about Anglo-Saxon occupation of Indian America. What about spanish conquest of the South america. I'm not talkin about Africa
( i think you should read much more books then one in a year)"
I see we have a new Russophile!
How dare you compare the Russians with the US?
The Kremlin was the agent of the deaths of 100 million and in 1933, taught Hitler how to kill another 35 million!
Yeah, Putin, we need to give our enemies a time table of exactly when we intend to give up, and accept life under the same shit we have spent decades fighting against. Islamism in regards to human rights, anti-Christianity and freedom, is just another approach the devil is embracing, now that the world has defeated and rejected his first threat to liberty-communism.
You suck, Putin! You putrid little Marxist sonovabitch!!!!
"You'll be suprised, but a huge part of the KGB agents were jews"
Youre right! The Russians needed the Jews to be perceived as intermediaries in the Genocide of Ukraine as to deflect criticism from the Kremlin.
After the Ukrainians were killed, the Kremlin killed all the Jews duing the Great Terror of the 30's.
"Was it Putin who seizured the school?! "
Do you mean in Ukraine of Byeloruss?
Yes, in fact he had designs to take not only the schools but the whole country!
Fortunately, he did not succeed in Ukraine.
"This is nothing more than cheap propaganda coming from Vlad."
We didn't know your wife worked directly for Putie!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1466740/posts?page=15#15
Should you recuse yourself from Russian related items given the fiduciary interest?
Putie,
60 years ago, we anhialated Germany and Japan and then we redeemed them.
Toyota just became the first car company to build 30 million of a single model.
We turn our vanquished enemies into world leaders.
Russia only treats their enemies as a host for their murderous, blood sucking imperialism.
have a look at post 92.......Chechnya - is an essential part of Russia............92 posted on 08/20/2005 4:18:18 AM PDT by iva
Chechnya is an "essential part of Russia"?
Since when?
1859?
Chechnya was a troublesome Islamic thorn on Russia's side that needed to be neutralized. In 1859, Russia did just that and Russia has stayed there right up until the 21st Century.
Iraq was a troublesome Baathist thorn menacing a major percentage of the worlds know oil reserves that needed to be neutralized. The U.S. did just that and the U.S. wants to stay long enough to create an Iraqi Goevernment that can defend itself against the forces of fanaticism.
Yet, Putin has the gall to demand a timetable for withdrawl.
"I'm surprised a political ideology that equates human beings with insects got so much traction around the planet"
i agree.
"and the bloody treaty between ....tiny nations of Estonia Latvia and Lithuania"
Here is some information about relations of this country with Russia.
Latvia became part of Russia since 1783. In 1920
among sovet russia & Latvia was signed an agreement as a resalt Latvia bacame an independent state (for the first time in it's history)In 1940 the parlament of independent Latvia voted for taking up a declaration of entering the country into USSR. In 1990 the parlament of sovet latvian repablic tooke another declaration of reconstruction of the
sovereignty of Latvia. USSR recognized the independence of the state. ( In both times exactly Russia was the first country who recognized Latvian rights to have sovereign state)
Lithuania. Russian in 1801.In 1915 ( during WW1) Lithuania was occupated by german army, according Ludendorff plane these lands should be liable to german colonization. Politicans ( with their leder A. Smetana) ) of Lithuania supported germans. in 1917 the parlament of Lithuania was elected. In 1918 the parlament proclaim formation of the independent state in alliens with Germany.In 1940 Lithuania ( as Germany concluded a treaty with USSR )became in part of Sovet Union. in 1990 was
drawen up a statement of reconstruction of the
sovereignty of Lithuania, which was recognized in USSR.
Since 1645 ESTONIA was a Swedish teretory.In the beginin of 18 century inerests of Russia in Baltic region
come into collision with Sweeden. The North War between Russia & Sweeden(1700-1721) ended with Russian win & joining Estonia to Russia, futher (i hope you know)almost the same story like with others
P.s all those agreements conformed to internatinal common law of that time. Then with apperance of The UN legislation were changed, but you cannot judge now the covenants which were concluded before the UN constituted. So,in fact, it wasn't an occupaion at all. Is it clear? enough?
Don't forget Moldavia.
You know, it's easy to be patronizing when none of your family members died at the hands of Russians.
I call for cocky little Putin to retire...quietly.
And Russia. It's time for that KGB Commie holdover to GO.
Believing official Russian statistics may be risky. Before you invest more money take a look at this:
http://www.economist.com/countries/Russia/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-FactSheet
Caution is strongly advised.
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