[ChicagoConservative27]

I would love to be a fly on the wall at that meeting.

[beezdotcom]

Bush should run up to "Pooty-poot", raise his shirt, and kiss him on the belly...

[MattinNJ]

I am a fervent anti-communist and wouldn't trust the Russkies as far as i could throw them. However, I also believe in a sovereign nation's right to act in their own best interest. Why shouldn't Russia use their resources to their best advantage. We wouldn't need their black gold if we weren't fighting a Fifth Column from within. "Environmentalists" (self loathing Americans) block our ability to compete and become self sufficient at every turn. If we don't do something about it soon, we are going to be in a world of hurt. I think it's going to take a gallon of gas reaching $ 4.00 before the libs can be beaten over the head with their policies and we can ram home some sensible policy.

[ozzymandus]

if I was Bush, my first question to pootie would be, "Hey Vlad, you've got two nuke-armed nutjobs on your borders, what are you gonna do about it?"

[kinetics]

Putin is still a cunning KGB agent, it's hard for him to change his ways.

[sinanju]

If Vlad runs into the arms of Hu Jintao he's going to find himself China's "punk" and I mean that in the penitentiary sense. There's been plenty written recently on China's unofficial expansion into depopulated siberia.

[Cinnamon]

Bush should pull a Reagan.. after the meeting just approach the podium and say the nuking will begin in 10 minutes.. LMAO

[dennisw]

Meanwhile, most everyone is antsy about Russia's growing energy prowess. Russia is the world's No. 2 oil exporter - and holds 65 percent of proven global natural-gas reserves.

Energy today is what the Red Army was during the Cold War: the source of Mother Russia's strength. With oil at $75 a barrel, and demand anything but softening, vast energy resources makes Russia a major power again.