Putin is a rat and should be treated as one.
Posted on 02/24/2005 2:04:23 PM PST by wjersey
Bratislava, Slovakia, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- We may not yet be talking about divorce but the extended honeymoon period between U.S President George W. Bush and his increasingly autocratic Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin came to a definitive end Thursday at a summit between the two leaders in the Slovak capital of Bratislava.
It all happened following the end of bilateral talks when a televised press conference turned into a relentless and devastating assault on Putin's backsliding on democratic reform.
Since global democratization has been made the centerpiece of Bush's second term foreign policy agenda, analysts and politicians in the United States and elsewhere had billed this meeting as the first key test of the American president's credibility.
As Russia analysts James M. Goldgeier and Michael McFaul had put it in a commentary in the current issue of the Weekly Standard:
"If the president neglects to affirm his commitment to freedom with Putin at his side, Bush will be signaling that his words don't count."
So most of us were expecting the issue to be raised, if only in passing.
But no one could have been prepared for what was about to unfold.
While observing diplomatic niceties, President Bush's opening remarks included a pointedly blunt statement of his concern that Russia was not fulfilling "fundamental" democratic principles.
And this was nothing to what President Putin was forced to endure in the subsequent questions, every single one of which focused on democracy.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
What? If Russia continues to side the Syria, Iran and others it is very bad news for Americans and the World.
Excuse me... but this @sshole is talking about the press conference that followed. What in the hell does that have to do with Bush. The press asked the questions, Bush didn't ask the questions. I thought from what we read here on FR that it went as well as can be expected.
Standing next to the most powerful man in the world, any one is going to look a little like he's sucking pond water.
As for what Bush said, it will be prophetic. Either Putin leads the way or he doesn't. If he lead the way we will help him. Contrary to what the press and the liberal dems think, this president talks the talk and walks the walk. He not going to say one thing in a inaugural speech and something different to the world.
It doesn't work like that anymore.
"Now watch this drive."
Hey Action Figure! This is your hero here huh? I guess the Cobra Commander is calling you to action to sort this out huh? HAHAHAHAHA!!!
As always, give my regards to Putin, comrade!
"Good grief..I watched that news conference and afterwards the talking heads did not have this take on it as "humiliation" of Putin in any form or fashion!"
Because it wasn't.
You should be able to catch it on CSPAN or CSPAN 2. That's what we are gonna do.
Putin should just remove all doubt and start wearing his turban in public.
Thanks
You might want to click on the transcript and judge this for yourself..Bush did not "humiliate" Putin.
..."it's become obvious that the Bush administration cowers before strength and laughs in the face of weakness. "
What are you talking about? That's about the sorryest, (if I could spell) thing I've ever heard.
I don't think there has been a more clear administration or president on just about every topic at hand. I don't see us cowering to anyone. Diplomacy takes time, and sometimes the seed of democracy is planted from what you;ve done elsewhere. The Ukraine happened because of our presence in Iraq. In time the students in Iran will rise up for the same reason.
Your analysis, excuse me for being blunt, sucks wet dog fur...I'm surprised at you...
correct.......we care a hell of alot about Russia....their alliances, their oil and whether they are sending it and arms to China.......Russia is a very big deal......
"Putin always looks like the KGB agent he is......no emotion"
I agree. I also would like to go on the record as saying to everyone what I've been saying to my husband for years. I do not trust Putin and neither should the United States.
The DUmmies say Bush was intimidated???? BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAHAHAHA! Putin looked like he swallowed a carp throughout most of the news conference. Bush's demeanor reminded me of Reagan when he met with Gorbachev in Iceland. PootyPoot is the scaredy cat.
me either. Bush continually said that the U.S. and Russia "differ" over the definitions of those "fundamental reforms."
China...probably hiding Bin Laden, stealing our eye teeth, remember our plane shot down....Mexico, illegals....North Korea, terrorism.....Iran, Nukes and blatant confrontation....Syria, terrorism and occupying Lebanon and terror staging in Iraq....Saudi Arabia, oil threat...want more??? Bush needs to get tough with someone besides Afghanistan and Iraq although these are a good start...we should be allies with Russia and India and we piss on both of them constantly
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