Putin's ravings

The Washington Times ^ | February 14, 2007 | Helle Dale

[twinself]

When today's world appears too complicated to deal with, some have been known to long nostalgically for the days of the Cold War. It is clear the Russian President Vladimir Putin is among them, judging by his tirade against the United States at the annual Verkunde conference on security policy in Munich. The speech, in which he accused the United States of "a hyper-inflated use of force" in the cause of world domination, was in the fine old tradition of Soviet leaders blustering and raging against the United States. All that was missing was Mr. Putin taking off his shoe and banging the table. Mr. Putin's speech was received with dismay by Europeans and Americans alike, particularly given the prestigious venue in which it was delivered. In some ways it may have been a salutary reminder of the continued value of NATO for both sides. "I can't hide my disappointment. I will not hide my disappointment. It's not helpful," commented NATO Secretary-General Japp de Hoop Scheffer. These days, of course, it is more common to find Europeans airing laundry lists of grievances against the United States. So, reminding the world what the alternatives are -- Russia and China -- may be quite helpful, much in the same vein as the nutty rant of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the U.N. General Assembly. But there may be those who will listen and find justification for their own anti-Americanism in Mr. Putin's ravings. One could shrug them off, as did Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who took the high road at the conference. However, as familiar themes emerged, the speech is worth examining a little closer. Mr. Putin's target in particular was a "unipolar" world with the United States calling the shots.

[LegendHasIt]

I looked into his eyes...
and saw that he has NO soul.

The only difference between Putin and ..say..Kruschev, is that thhe old timers just passed out AKs and RPGs to anyone who would attack 'western interests', while Putin gives them advanced weapons systems and nukes.

[RichardMoore]

Ah, Mr Putin and the cold war, we are in for more surprises where he is concerned. Knocking off your critics seems to be the way he is staying in power. Mr. Gorbachev told the world what the Russians were up to back in 1986 in PERESTROIKA when he quoted Lenin in calling for a little false capitalism designed to get some Amerikan aid.

[twinself]

Regarding Bush's statement regarding Putin's soul.
I know that Bush had to play a friendly card during his visit in Moscow, putting faith in "Russian style democracy". Now, from perspective we may see that as a mistake as it surely didn't work out as expected. I hope a lessons has been learned by White House administration. Historically Russia respects power and power only and treats the weak like dirt.

Now regarding Russia's role...
Putin sees Russia as USA's rival and competitor. And every conflict America will become involved in makes Russia stronger. Of course his vision is blurred by high oil prices and underestimating Chinese potential.

[SwedishConservative]

Putin and is neo-sovjet maffiaism scares the living heck out of me. Americans should take comfort in there beeing an ocean between him and them and hope that any long-range weaponry he might still posess has rusted out in their storages.

Considering the hissy-fits he threw at any international mention of Tjetnya, Putin should be pretty much disqualified of making any remarks regarding "unipolar" power. But the list goes on.

* Talk of coming to the aid of the "opressed" russians in the North-Ossetian district in Georgia.
* Expressed "concerns" about allegedly opressed russion enclaves in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and talk about interventions.
* Election tampering and intimidation in the Ukraine.
* Re-militarisation of the Baltic Sea with talk of required military presence to guarantee "security" of the proposed (and by the EU agreed upon) gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

Russia may be less formidable than in their Soviet hay-day but they're still every bit at scary.

[OldFriend]

This from the little bantam rooster who loves to kiss the stomachs of little boys.

[B. Chezwick]

This is about what I would expect from a commie and anti semite. How long until Russia begins supplying Iraqi terrorists with high tech weapons?

[JasonC]

This level of reaction is a sign of denial, disbelief, childishness, shallowness, in all the leaders of the west. They are defied to their face with deadly intent, and they try to pretend it isn't happening and spin it away with glib platitudes.

Next, when 3000 die and there is another smoking hole in the ground, pols will gather round the cameras and tell jokes about how it isn't helpful and our relationship with our enemies is complicated and they are strong willed enemies, and can we please get back to talking about paternity suits and cocktail dresses and dead whores?

[JasonC]

They give weapons to Iran, Iran gives weapons to Iraqi rebels. Already. The more middlemen the merrier.

[JasonC]

You left out "giving Iran high tech missiles and helping their nuclear program" and "assassinating personal enemies in downtown London in broad daylight". Just little things, you know, like that.

[Tailgunner Joe]

"I can't hide my disappointment. I will not hide my disappointment. It's not helpful," commented NATO Secretary-General Japp de Hoop Scheffer.

And he would like to hide it, trust me. This is someone who has gone out of his way in attempting to dispell Russia's paranoid fears about NATO.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer: The states who aspire to membership in NATO do not seek to join an "anti-Russian" Alliance - "A perfect example is the arrangements we have in place to support the Alliance's operation in Afghanistan, which involve the presence of military forces in several Central Asian states. President Putin has said clearly that this operation strengthens the security of the southern rim of Russia and the CIS."