It may strike people as odd now, but Putin was one of GW’s few defenders at times. I remember him several times defending Bush when he really didn’t have anything to gain, back when the press was pounding him daily for supposedly falsefying intelligence.
I think the relationship was genuine. The disgreements were genuine too. But I think Putin respected Bush. I don’t think he respects Obama. But we’ll see.
“It may strike people as odd now, but Putin was one of GW’s few defenders at times. I remember him several times defending Bush when he really didn’t have anything to gain, back when the press was pounding him daily for supposedly falsefying intelligence.”
I recall this as well, Putin went out of his way to point out that he respected bush a great deal more than the people he was talking to did on one occasion.