Posted on 08/16/2008 4:35:38 AM PDT by Kaslin
The violent history of Eastern Europe inspired Irish author Bram Stoker to create his classic horror character Dracula in 1897. Stoker based his vampire on a Romanian ruler named Vlad Tepes, who, in the 15th century, committed incredible atrocities like impaling thousands of captured people on felled trees. Nice guy.
For this Tepes was called "Vlad the Impaler."
Now we have Vladimir Putin, the Russian martinet who is orchestrating the violence in Georgia in order to show the world that the Russian military is back in fighting form. Using the old Third Reich ruse of "protecting" ethnic "Russians" living in Georgian territory, Putin launched a violent action that has angered most decent people.
For this Putin should be known as "Vlad the Assailer."
Why is Putin doing this? Well, like Dracula, it is in his blood. As a former Soviet Secret Police director, Putin has no problem using harsh methods to achieve his goals. Under his presidency, Russia became a crime-ridden state where dissenters (and Putin's business competitors) were routinely beaten, imprisoned and, on occasion, murdered.
There is no question in my mind that Putin is a thug who still calls the shots in Russia despite the election of his protégé Dmitry Medvedev as president.
Putin's vision is a Russia that dominates the countries on its borders and competes with the United States and China for global influence. He has done everything he can to weaken America -- including selling Iran sophisticated weaponry like the Tor-M1 air defense system, as well as 500 surface-to-air missiles. Obviously, Putin is no friend of ours.
The United States has tweaked Putin back by supporting Georgia's entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and that is the crux of the current conflict. Realizing that the Bush administration cannot handle another armed conflict right now, Putin decided to show the world that he could punish America's friend, Georgia, without a meaningful response. He has succeeded in doing that.
Down the road, either John McCain or Barack Obama will have to deal with Vlad the Assailer. This dour, brutal man senses weakness in both America and Europe, weakness that will drive him to become bolder. The only thing a guy like Vlad understands is the stick.
But how to wield it is the question. As with Iran, diplomacy is not likely to deter Putin because Europe needs Russia's natural gas and oil and is not likely to challenge Russia by supporting sanctions. So it will come down to the United States vs. Russia, mano a mano.
Putin is one tough customer. It will be interesting to see whether the United States will elect a leader who can effectively neutralize him. If that does not happen, old Vlad, like Dracula, will commit scourge on the countryside.
Putin is a descendant of Mad Ivan.
Putin decided to show the world that he could punish America’s, (WEAK, OUTNUMBERED, and UNPREPARED) friend, Georgia, without a meaningful response. He has succeeded in doing that. ..................... I don’t think the Ukranians would let the Russians get away with that on their territory. How long before the IEDs appear in Georgia if the Russians stay on? (Rhetorical)
I still prefer "Vlad the Putin"
Playing “Monday Morning QB” on this would lead one to conclude that when the USSR broke up these countries should have “invited” these Russians to vacate. Thus eliminating the Russians coming back to “rescue” them from the bad locals.
Get over your hate for O’Reilly. Did you even read the column?
Or perhaps “Vlad the Irradiator”
I had read that Russia purposely moved ethnic Russians to the area to keep a foothold in the area.
Russians are strange to me. I’m not being ugly about it, we have many Russian immigrants by me. You can pick them out and they seem to be inherently angry and gruff. I know not all are like that but it’s just the impression I get, they kinda creep me out.
No wonder He Is supporting ObOmbO
No wonder He Is supporting ObOmbO
Send in a Mafia neutralizer.
His hate for O'Reilly? More like his hate for Pres Bush.
I read gunnyg's link. It's a blog posting supporting Dennis Kuchinich's impeachment claims against Pres Bush for "lying" to us about WMD in order to attack Iraq. O'Reilly had stated that "normal" Americans don't support the President's impeachment over this (I agree) and that set off the blog writer into a minor tirade over O'Reilly and a major one against Pres Bush.
To gunnyg:
Have you ever read the 1998 Liberation of Iraq Act signing speech by Pres Clinton? He makes EXACTLY the same claims Pres Bush made in 2003. So if Kuchinich is going to impeach, he needs to impeach Clinton (again!) also. Frankly, I'd almost like to see the democrats bring up impeachment hearings so we can see the quotes from Clinton, Albright, Cohen, Kennedy, Kerry, etc, etc about Saddam's WMD. Still, the country doesn't need this type of politically savage warfare, as it's just a downward spiral to Banana republicship. If they try impeachment over this extremely false charge (Bush Lied©), it will lead to an impeachment trial of every president henceforth to be elected where there is an oppostion party controlling the House of Representatives. So O'Reilly was smack on right.
Normal Americans don't want that kind of political BS.
Thanks for your post. Some people can’t just get over their hatred for President Bush and those will be one of the first who wished President Bush would be still in the White House, especially if God forbid, Obama gets elected
Russia hasn’t changed.
Godless communists rule it.
There is nothing Putin will not do.
We are drawing ever closer to the final act.
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