Putin urges help for U.S. in Iraq

CNN ^

[jmc1969]

SVETLOGORSK, Russia (AP) -- President Vladimir Putin has called on the world community to work with the United States to bring stability to Iraq, saying after meeting with French and German leaders that past disputes over the U.S.-led war should not prevent future cooperation.

Like France and Germany, Russia sharply opposed the invasion of Iraq and has expressed concerns about continuing violence and the increased attacks that have been blamed largely on Sunni Arab insurgents.

"All of the disagreements on the Iraqi problem must remain in the past," Putin said Sunday.

"We should be pooling efforts with the United States and with the countries that are present in Iraq today and that have assumed the function of promoting stability in that country in order to help the Iraqi people assume responsibility for its future."

French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder came to this city outside the Baltic Sea port of Kaliningrad at Putin's invitation to mark the 750th anniversary of the founding of Kaliningrad -- formerly Koenigsberg now a Russian enclave cut off from the rest of Russia by EU members Poland and Lithuania.

[FairOpinion]

Our relationship with Russia is much more complex, than it appears on the surface. They have been and are very helpful to us, mostly behind the scenes, but sometimesin the open. But Putin also has to make sure to maintain his position.

Many people also forget, that before the presidential elections, Putin came out and not only endorsed President Bush, but made statements to the effect, that Bush is the only one who can fight and win the War on Terror. Putin also supported Bush, by revealing that Russian intelligence knew and told the US, that Saddam was indeed planning to launch terrorist attacks in the US, which is also carefully "forgotten" by the MSM.

[armymarinemom]

Maybe Putin has been noticing that a lot of the AQ recruiting videos contain both scenes from Iraq and Chechnya.

[struwwelpeter]

He has a pretty good perspective of what terrorism is all about...having survived being poisoned to death

Perhaps you have him mixed up with Yushchenko/Politkovskaya/Popov?

[ValenB4]

Probably oohing and aahing at fireworks.

[McGavin999]

It's getting pretty obvious to everyone (except the people who are fed lies by the media) that the US is winning this one. It would be stupid to back the other side at this point.

Leaders like Putin, Chirac and Schroeder are getting the truth even if they won't let their own people know it. We're winning and the Iraqi people are going to be free and Iran is becoming a problem. They can no longer remain neutral.

[Fruit of the Spirit]

"Perhaps you have him mixed up with Yushchenko/Politkovskaya/Popov?"

Arrrggghhh! You're right, I do. But wasn't Putin the leader when the school was attacked by terrorists?

[jb6]

Why haven't you pinged me on this one?

[righttackle44]

[From another FR thread:]
"Russia Will Equip Iranian Subs with Cruise Missiles"

Is THIS the kind of help he means?

[RussianBoor]

And President Bush was the only Western leader to unequivocally say sorry during the Beslan tragedy. I personally will never forget this.

My personal opinion about Iraq and what President Putin has said: I think that it had been not in the interests of the United States to plump into this mess. Many problems that are evident now were predictable then. The way the decision to go to war in Iraq had been made was not perfect either. However, all this belongs to the past. Now the US are carrying the heaviest burden in fighting the Islamic terrorists. This makes US, Russia and in fact all civilized world natural allies.

[Destro]

Does this mean Vladamir is willing to share the costs incurred in the past to bring Iraq to a state of Democracy?

Hell, I don't think we Americans want to assume that bill for too long.