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Russia: Putin Calls For Withdrawal Timetable For Iraq
RFE/RL ^ | 19 August 2005 | Claire Bigg

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.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: axisofweasels; iraq; oif; putin; russia; timetable; troopwithdrawal
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To: GarySpFc
Lukasz has an agenda, and trying to destroy the reputations or foundations of his opposition is part of it.

Lukasz Russian Hatred Obsession/Agenda

The threads that Lukasz has been on, sampled from 12 Aug -17 Aug

Ukraine wants to deepen economic relations with Russia

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2005/08/16/041.html

Ukraine, Georgia fuming over planned Russian sex film

WHAT IS BEHIND THE GROWING TENSION IN RUSSIAN-POLISH RELATIONS?

Poland Appeals to Russia to Stop Attacks [against Polish diplomats and a journalist]

EU challenges Putin (Fourth Reich on move alert!)

Russia considers sanctions against Moldova

That's 7 out 13 threads dealing directly with Russia. He also goes out of his way to spread hatred on the following other threads that originally had nothing to do with Russia till Luki here made it so. So that's another 5 out of 13 threads total. So in other words, the man who accuses others of "obsession and one agenda posting" is driven by either personal or paid hatred of Russians on 12 out of 13 threads.

Far-Rightists Target 'Judeo-Nazis' in the Ukraine

Germany may become Ukraine’s promoter in EU

The first lesson in schools will be devoted to European Union (brainwashing kids for the EU)

The pride of 'people without a country'

Whome of the politicians do we trust most of all? (Western/Central Ukraine)

421 posted on 08/23/2005 12:04:04 PM PDT by jb6 (The Atheist/Pagan mind, a quandary wrapped in egoism and served with a side order of self importance)
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To: sergey1973

You are right. He even took Molotov's wife as a concubine and when he got tired of her sent her to a gulag. It is said that the only thing that Molotov said when he saw Stalin dead (though there is evidence he was part of the poisoning of that monster) was "I want my wife back."


422 posted on 08/23/2005 12:06:03 PM PDT by jb6 (The Atheist/Pagan mind, a quandary wrapped in egoism and served with a side order of self importance)
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To: spanalot

thanks for the link, but i'd rather disagree. in that statistic there are also UPA loses which were more fascists alleis then antifascists(how many soviets(ukranians) were killed by them)About the meetting, Person with name Ivan Konev is a "Ukranian"?! No this site do not show the real statistic & the real truth
everybody, who knows russian language. Here is the Russian (soviet) veteran's names you can compare how many ukranians, russian, jews, kolmiks,uzbeks etc., were there. A you can see there a very interesting multimedia map f the WW2
http://www.pobediteli.ru/


423 posted on 08/23/2005 12:40:35 PM PDT by iva
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To: Tailgunner Joe

"Putin calls for timetable for withdrawal from Iraq"


Yeah....last I checked he didn't have troops IN Iraq so IMHO he can take a flying F*&K at a rolling doughnut.


I agree with the sentiment, but the messenger has NO credibility with anyone. I want our forces out, but not until the job is done.


424 posted on 08/23/2005 12:43:03 PM PDT by trubluolyguy (Ew. This tastes like a monkey. A monkey that's past his prime. "Chris Griffin")
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To: sergey1973; Romanov; jb6; GarySpFc; spanalot

I doubt that spnalot will listen to you. Iraq is of little interest for him - the article is just the podium for his ridiculous speeches.

Funny, that whenever there is an article on Russia, there is always the same discussion going on. With maps, historical links and such. The audience seems to have completely forgotten the topic.

As to Putin asking to pull out US troops out of Iraq... I guess, we (as a country, Russia) have to mind our own business rather than pretending to be a superpower. If we concentrate on economy and on the nation well-being, we will be superpower again. I believe that Putin had in mind the domestic audience, when he spoke about Iraq. Well, polititians do not belong to themselves.

We have our own trouble - Chechnya. We have to sort it out. And if we want to sort it ourselves, we ought not to give such advices as "pull out of Iraq", knowing that Iraq, like Chechnya is the breeding ground for the most active Islamofascists. Secondly we have an experince of what happened in Chechnya when Russia pulled out troops from there. It turned to be a sack full of terrorists and gangsters spreading the terrorist poison around and elswhere.

And what if Haliburton and US oil companies and whoever else profited enormously from war in Iraq? Well it already happened. It is irreversible. Have the planners of this war had profits in mind as well as getting rid of Saddam? Yes. Since Benjamin Franklin "doing well by doing good" is a principle of international politics.

Will pulling US troops out of Iraq help anybody besides a handful of idiots who will feel better about US defeat and Islamofascists who will pour into Iraq? Happy days! US defeat does not automatically make you stronger, you squareheads! American influence spreads further? What the heck did you do to make YOUR country stronger, so HER influence, not the moans and bitching will spread around? If it goes on like this, your influence will not go any further than your own private property, if it is not arrested by court order.

I may disagree with Iraq war. But that already happened. Pulling US troops out after all these losses will be a great mistake.

So, I want to state, that not all Russians second the opinion of their president on pulling US troops out of Iraq. I know that there is so much hypocricy around it. My reasons for having such opinion may be completely different from those of my American counterparts.

What I wanted to say is that sometimes we have to cut the crap and be frank to ourselves. I guess that applies to everybody.


425 posted on 08/23/2005 1:01:46 PM PDT by K. Smirnov (Do not let the sands of time get into your lunch)
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To: spanalot

"You have no sense of the magnitude of the plunder that flowed into Russia during these years - far too much for zakuska, dachas , and caviar. It went to build the Infrastructure of Russia - which is now falling apart as it can no longer be sustained by artificially high oil and imperial plunder. "

BTW, do you have a sense of magnitute how much of oil, gas, precious metals, wood and other natural resources flew out of Russia proper during Soviet Era? How much oil and gas was sent to "brotherly" Soviet Republics or then Soviet satellites in E. Europe for the fraction of the world price and how much oil gas was sold on the world market and the oil dollars went to build a monstrous military-industrial complex or they were sent to prop up Communist or Soviet Friendly regimes or pro-Soviet Terror Groups (like Arafat's PLO) all over the world ?

Castro's Cuba alone received estimated 4 to 6 billion of Dollars annually from the Soviet Block over 30 years. And who was the largest cow of the "Soviet Block"--wasn't it Russia ? Where would Soviet Leadership took most of the oil, gas and other natural resources to sell on the world market and for oil dollars to purchase the weaponry, machinery and build Cuba infrastructure. Where Soviet leadership would get most of their resources to convert to cash, weaponry and other materiel to be sent to the regimes like Castro or Kim Jong Il. Shouldn't most of Oil, gas, precious metals and other precious commodities come mostly from Russia and Central Asia ? Again--check the facts instead of repeating your lame assertions that all Russian people "benefited" from Communism.

http://www.cubafacts.com/Economy/econ2.htm


426 posted on 08/23/2005 1:06:12 PM PDT by sergey1973 (Russian American Political Blogger, Arm Chair Strategist)
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To: iva

"how many soviets(ukranians) were killed by them"

Would you believe Bandura and all his lieutenants were killed in the Nazi Concentration camps?

Yes, the Bandurists were some Nazis, weren't they.


427 posted on 08/23/2005 1:34:58 PM PDT by spanalot
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To: iva

"Here is the Russian (soviet) veteran's names you can compare how many ukranians, russian, jews, kolmiks,uzbeks etc., were there. A you can see there a very interesting multimedia map f the WW2
http://www.pobediteli.ru/"

I have spent my life fighting Russian propaganda - why should I start believing it now?



428 posted on 08/23/2005 1:36:43 PM PDT by spanalot
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To: spanalot
I have spent my life fighting Russian propaganda - why should I start believing it now?

Be honest for once in your life. You are Sotos shill, and he is your paymaster. For that reason you will never be an American at heart.
429 posted on 08/23/2005 2:08:27 PM PDT by GarySpFc (Sneakypete, De Oppresso Liber)
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To: GarySpFc
Lying is a spiritual departure from reality, and you long ago took that trip. JB6 is definitely American.

You both are unable to offend me.

Georgia benefited from Stalin's dictatorship, NOT RUSSIA.

What a great comment Gary, perfectly showing you hypocrisy! How can you claim that any “Soviet” nation benefited from Stalin’s dictatorship? And you blame other Freepers that they are blaming the Russians (I personally disagree with such opinion).

430 posted on 08/23/2005 2:45:06 PM PDT by Lukasz
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To: spanalot

"I have spent my life fighting Russian propaganda - why should I start believing it now? "

With all due respect to your life spent fighting Russian/Soviet propaganda, you might have forgotten that now you feeding us with other propaganda instead--Ukrainian one. Every propaganda (Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, etc.) has tendency to distort the facts. And I prefer facts to any fiction be it Russian, Ukrainian or any other.

Facts are that millions of ordinary Russians (as well as Ukrainians and other Soviet citizens) were among the victims, slaves and participants of Communist crimes. Fiction is that every Russian "benefited" from Communism. It's Russian/Soviet Communists who benefited from plundering the Russia, Ukraine and the rest of USSR natural wealth to prop up its own regime, finance its collosal projects and support the friendly Communist Regimes abroad.

Otherwise why most Russians were living in abject poverty cramming in miniscule apartments in ugly government owned multiapartment buildings--the scraps from the Soviet System ? Where Russian/Soviet Communist regime would get much of its oil, gas and other natural resources to finance its avanturistic policies and absurd projects at home and abroad ? Ukraine ? Poland ? None of it.

The main cow to milk for Russian/Soviet Communists was the Russia itself with its huge oil and gas reserves to be sold on the world market with cash proceeds going to develop weaponry, build huge military-industrial complex in Russia and the rest of USSR and support similar cannibal regimes round the world. Ordinary Russians did not benefit from these reckless foreign and domestic policies at all--the fact that can easily be confirmed if you read any thorough Russian/Soviet observers from the West, like Richard Pipes and David Satter.


431 posted on 08/23/2005 2:51:36 PM PDT by sergey1973 (Russian American Political Blogger, Arm Chair Strategist)
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To: Lukasz
What a great comment Gary, perfectly showing you hypocrisy! How can you claim that any “Soviet” nation benefited from Stalin’s dictatorship? And you blame other Freepers that they are blaming the Russians (I personally disagree with such opinion).

See, you cannot even blink without lying. I am not blaming the Georgians for anything. If they received more under Stalin so be it. However, you support he view that all Russians are the communists. You and the other Soros shills are the mirror image of the Ku Klux Klan, the worst bigots in the world, and without a soul.
432 posted on 08/23/2005 2:52:24 PM PDT by GarySpFc (Sneakypete, De Oppresso Liber)
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To: jb6

Actually in these maps the Magyars are showen where they were supposed to be shown. While I know your intention before was not to support the claims off that previous website which claimed that the gypsies and the Jewish people have the same origins (SIC), I can't help myself but be bumused by it. And again, I know it is not what the point you were trying to make.

Cheers!


433 posted on 08/23/2005 2:56:48 PM PDT by Quinotto (On matters of style swim with the current,on matters of principle stand like a rock-Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Lukasz
Ah, don't mind him, I am waiting for his next fit where he mentions his vet status, it has been less than 6 hours since he's done so, he's got to go through an withdrawal.
434 posted on 08/23/2005 3:03:59 PM PDT by Quinotto (On matters of style swim with the current,on matters of principle stand like a rock-Thomas Jefferson)
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To: GarySpFc; Lukasz

"Georgia benefited from Stalin's dictatorship, NOT RUSSIA."

Gary. Here I must interrupt you. No ordinary Georgians, Russians, Ukrainians, etc "Benefited" from this cannibal Stalin regime--they were all slaves of this terrible regime although they were part of this regime too to a different extent. Many Georgians were shot by NKVD or sent to GULAG alongside Russians, Ukrainians, etc.

I am arguing against spanalot's absurd claims of every Russian "benefiting" from Communist Regime, and I don't want that another absurd claim be flying around.

Lies and slanders must be fought with truth and facts--not another lies.


435 posted on 08/23/2005 3:13:32 PM PDT by sergey1973 (Russian American Political Blogger, Arm Chair Strategist)
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To: GarySpFc
See, you cannot even blink without lying. I am not blaming the Georgians for anything. If they received more under Stalin so be it.

Claiming that any nation benefited under Stalin, it is a lie.

However, you support he view that all Russians are the communists. You and the other Soros shills are the mirror image of the Ku Klux Klan, the worst bigots in the world, and without a soul.

You are not serious person…. Lying is so unchristian, Mr. “great Christian”.

436 posted on 08/23/2005 3:19:00 PM PDT by Lukasz
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To: Lukasz
Claiming that any nation benefited under Stalin, it is a lie.

Sergey corrected me on that point in private, and I stand corrected. I will admit to being wrong. However, are you still supporting Spanalot's contention that Russia benefited more than the other countries in the Soviet Union? You call me a liar, but say nothing to Spanalot, and that shows you area a hypocrite.
437 posted on 08/23/2005 3:34:53 PM PDT by GarySpFc (Sneakypete, De Oppresso Liber)
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To: sergey1973
Lies and slanders must be fought with truth and facts--not another lies.

Correct me if I am wrong, and I am willing to admit it. I was wrong. However, you said I lied, when I was wrong. You need to learn the difference.
438 posted on 08/23/2005 3:42:14 PM PDT by GarySpFc (Sneakypete, De Oppresso Liber)
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To: Quinotto

Did you tell us you fought in Desert Storm I? Since when do they allow women in combat? Please tell us how you served?


439 posted on 08/23/2005 3:44:29 PM PDT by GarySpFc (Sneakypete, De Oppresso Liber)
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To: GarySpFc
. However, are you still supporting Spanalot's contention that Russia benefited more than the other countries in the Soviet Union?

Firstly, once again you are claiming that I supported some claims and in reality if you would read my post then you would know that I did not. I repeat once again that no nation benefited from Stalin’s regime. However the Russian nation is responsible in general for thing what they allowed to happen in their territories controlled mostly by their people. (Like the Polish nation is responsible for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth sins, despite that we had foreign kings sometimes) And I repeat once again that I don’t condemn all Russian but only those communists. I hope that you understand my point now.

You call me a liar, but say nothing to Spanalot, and that shows you area a hypocrite.

It is you who started talking about ” liars” in this thread. Since you are Kremlin apologist then I gave you the chance to defend your Russia, however I didn’t wrote that I agree with him on that.

440 posted on 08/23/2005 3:48:34 PM PDT by Lukasz
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