Posted on 07/15/2006 8:42:42 AM PDT by oxcart
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — In a chilly summit prelude, President Bush blocked Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization on Saturday and President Vladimir Putin mockingly said Moscow doesn't want the kind of violence-plagued democracy the United States has fostered in Iraq.
Alternately joking and poking at each other, the two also showed differences at a news conference on the explosion of violence in the Mideast.
Bush held Israel blameless for its punishing attacks in Lebanon and said it was up to the militant group Hezbollah to lay down its arms. Putin was critical of Israel's use of force and said the violence "should stop as soon as possible."
The two leaders met for two hours before the opening of the annual summit of eight major world powers, which was expected to focus on nuclear problems with Iran and North Korea and the escalating fighting between Israel and the Islamic guerrilla group Hezbollah.
There was a quick handshake but little warmth between Bush and Putin during a photo opportunity opening their talks. For the second day, Bush spent part of it mountain biking.
Despite the sparring, there was none of the tension and anger that crackled in Bratislava, Slovakia, 17 months ago when Bush challenged Putin over Russia's crackdown on dissent and retreat from democracy and the Russian president slapped back. After that jarring meeting, Bush concluded that lecturing Putin in public was unproductive. Still, Bush said he offered Putin some suggestions.
"I talked about my desire to promote institutional change in parts of the world like Iraq where there's a free press and free religion," Bush said at the news conference, "and I told him that a lot of people in our country would hope that Russia would do the same thing."
Putin, in a barbed reply, said: "We certainly would not want to have the same kind of democracy as they have in Iraq, I will tell you quite honestly." Bush's face reddened as he tried to laugh off the remark. "Just wait," Bush replied about Iraq.
Putin also said Russia would not take part "in any crusades, in any holy alliances" _ a remark seemingly intended to win points with Arab allies. Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said he was perplexed by the comment.
Hosting the Group of Eight summit for the first time, Putin dearly wanted to win approval for Russia's admission to the World Trade Organization, the 149-nation group that sets the rules for world trade. The United States is the only country that has not signed off on Russia's membership in the WTO, and Bush dashed Putin's hopes for getting in now.
"We're tough negotiators," Bush said, adding that any agreement would have to be acceptable to the U.S. Congress.
U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said "significant progress" had been made in narrowing differences over the protection of U.S. copyrights and patents and boosting the sale of American manufactured goods. She said negotiators were unable to resolve a dispute over Russian barriers to the sale of American beef and pork. She said the hope was that the agreement could be completed "in the next couple of months."
The Mideast violence threatened to overtake the summit's carefully planned agenda and highlight divisions among leaders. Bush has been outspoken in defending Israel and blaming Hezbollah _ backed by Syria and Iran _ for igniting the crisis with a cross-border raid into Israel and capturing two Israeli soldiers.
"The best way to stop the violence is for Hezbollah to lay down its arms and to stop attacking. And therefore I call upon Syria to exert influence over Hezbollah," Bush said.
Putin agreed with Bush that it was unacceptable to pursue goals using force and abductions.
"At the same time," the Russian leader said, "we work under the assumption that the use of force should be balanced." The European Union _ and France, in particular _ has condemned Israel's attacks as excessive, putting Bush at odds with key allies.
The United States pressed for a summit statement identifying Hezbollah as the main culprit and emphasizing the importance of maintaining a democratic Lebanon. The statement also would criticize Syria, Iran, and the Palestinian group Hamas for "all acting in a way that frustrates democracy in the area and frustrates peace," said Hadley. It would assert the importance of maintaining democracy in Lebanon and salute efforts of the United Nations to restore peace.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov called the conflict "basically, a war that has begun" and warned that other nations in the region could be drawn into the fight.
Bush said he and Putin agreed on the need for the U.N. Security Council to take action against Iran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment and against North Korea for testing a long-range missile and refusing to rejoin six-nation disarmament talks.
"There is common agreement that we need to get something done at the U.N." on Iran, Bush said. He said there was common ground on North Korea, as well, and "now we're working on language." Russia and China have been reluctant to impose penalties on North Korea or Iran. Bush declined to say whether he asked Putin to back U.N. sanctions against Iran.
Lacking a centerpiece agreement on trade, the United States and Russia announced several lesser agreements:
_Increased cooperation against nuclear terrorism, which they deemed one of the most dangerous security challenges facing the world. The accord envisions other nations in the campaign.
_The opening of negotiations on a civilian nuclear agreement that would clear the way for a profitable arrangement for Russia to use its vast territory as a storehouse for the world's used reactor fuel.
_Creation of a foundation dedicated to the development of an independent entrepreneurial sector in Russia, rooted in the rule of law.
"I think the love affair is over."
Cold war round two is starting.
Putin is a snake in the grass.
Which love affair, the one between the people who write these headlines and spin these stories and the truth?
Oh, the one that began in the F350 on the ranch in Texas. We acted in good faith.
that's not quite the term I was looking for, but it fits.
If memory serves, Bush 41 initiated the push for WTO entry for China. It seems that the Bushes never learn that these backstabbers are going to stab them in THEIR backs and they keep enabling their efforts.
Neither Russia NOR China have any place in the WTO, but Russua, like China, will get in. This, in turn, will be another blow to US manufacturing as more work is outsourced to Russain gulags.
Bush has tried hard for five years. Putin has decided he'd rather revive the Soviet Union.
It's really, really stupid of him. Russia needs to fix itself, not reconquer its neighbors. In the days when Russia fought off the Turks and the Tartars and expanded their empire, they had a rising population and a lot of energy. Now, they are aborting themselves into extinction, and soon will barely have enough people to populate Russia, let alone rule their neighbors.
WHOOPS!!!! I mis-read the article. Never mind . . . . DISREGARD . . . . . . DO OVER!!!!
Maybe it is where the actual beef is :)
There was no "lover affair". We needed somethings from them then. Aid in getting us into the 'stands, Intellegence etc. Of course Bush kissed Putin's butt then. Now they want stuff from us and we can take a harder line. I am amazed how few Americans understand how diplomacy works. Look we don't like them, they don't like us. That fine. But we can still work together. None of us like the Muzzies
I never trusted that sneaky little ex-KGB agent Putin from the start. His facial expressions never have seemed genuine. He is a conniving commie through and through.
Siding with Iran and North Korea is proof positive enough.
"Cold war round two is starting."
It has never ended. KGB still runs rampant in Moscow under the guise of a different name. This is the commie way. They make you think they are finished but in reality they are constantly regrouping and plotting.
"We acted in good faith."
Speak for yourself. Dubya may have been incomptetant enough to misjudge Putin (peered into the depths of his soul?!) but most on FR saw him as he was then and is now - a wannabe tyrant. Cheers for Bush for denying Russia into the WTO though having the US exit said organization would be even better.
Yow, a Reykjavik moment if there ever was to be a repeat. There is too much unfinished business and too much Russian opposition in the Security Council to give them the gold ring. Good on GWB for keeping the carrot in his pocket. Oh my, how the libs will howl!!!
Did it start? US backed out of the ABM treaty way back in 2001 and Russia continues to support Iran's nuke prgram.
LOL
OK, exclude yourself, Einstein. Let me rephrase:
The president acted in good faith.
AMEN, sorry I left off the /s.
"Dubya may have been incomptetant enough to misjudge Putin (peered into the depths of his soul?!)"
Like Reagan said, "Trust but verify" GWB trusted but obviously could not verify. Guess Old Pute brushed aside all the Texas hospitality shown him down on the Circle W Ranch visit.
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