Posted on 02/08/2016 6:23:40 AM PST by DeathBeforeDishonor1
(CNN)Russian President Vladimir Putin has told a German newspaper he did not mean to scare Chancellor Angela Merkel when he brought his pet Labrador in to meet her during an infamous press conference nine years ago.
Merkel, reportedly fearful of dogs since one attacked her in 1995, was photographed looking distinctly uncomfortable when Putin brought his large black Labrador Koni into a meeting at his summer residence in Sochi, Russia, in January 2007.
The Russian leader appeared to smirk as he watched his pet approach his uneasy VIP guest.
Now, years on, Putin has told German newspaper Bild he had no intention of intimidating Merkel.
"I wanted to do something nice for her," he told the newspaper, in an interview published Monday.
"When I found out that she doesn't like dogs, of course I apologized."
Putin's treatment of Merkel, in office for less than two years at the time, reportedly rankled the German press corps.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
contrast in leaders.
he’s an assassin and thug, but at least he’s trying to save his country
This happened in 2007 but being reported now.
Sure you did.
Reminds me of how Hitler got Austrian Chancellor Schussnigg to capitulate to the Anschluss in 1938. Hitler knew Schussnigg was a chain smoker, and Hitler refused to let him smoke during their meeting. After a while, Schussnigg was so desperate for a smoke, he would sign anything. And so he did.
Vlad knows how the game is played.
yeah hes so terrible compared to our murderous thug.
Nice looking dog. Muslims do not like dogs, especially black ones.
Putin is worth $200 billion. That’s almost as much as Mark Zuckerberg
This is odd timing. Why a story from 9 years ago now? And who is afraid of a Lab? Most Labs have the demeanor of a cow.
I LOVE these pictures of the criminal traitor scared to death. She should feel the same fear by being dropped into a Muslim migrant camp anywhere in Europe.
Vlad has a Labrador Retriever?
As much as i love Labs, somehow I’m a bit disappointed. I figured he’d have some type of wolfhund breed.
All Merkel had to do was open her mouth and he would have removed the dog. Her whole bit was a farce.
Yeh...like a cow...not like the moose that bit my sister
You’re either a complete a-hole or getting paid to praise and pump up that KGB/FSB piece of crap phony.
Next time he can bring his Poodle bitch Obama...
http://www.buzzfeed.com/maxseddon/documents-show-how-russias-troll-army-hit-america
____________________________
Kremlin pays internet trolls to flatter Putin
Ben Hoyle - Moscow
October 11 2013
Russian investigative journalists and bloggers have uncovered an army of internet trolls paid to pour invective on the Kremlin's opponents and heap praise on President Putin.
Posing as job applicants, the reporters discovered the government hacks working at a small company called the St Petersburg Internet Research Agency. ..."
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/asia/article3891720.ece
Labs are easy to train, low maintenance, good family dogs but mostly, Labs are fiercely loyal.
British newspaper The Guardian notes that recently, readers have been complaining of pro-Russia propaganda being posted in the comments section of articles about Russia and Ukraine.
One reader wrote to The Guardian:
"One need only pick a Ukraine article at random, pick any point in the comments at random, and they will find themselves in a sea of incredibly aggressive and hostile users (the most obvious have accounts created since February 2014 ... but there also exist those who registered with the Guardian before the high point of the crisis) who post the most biased, inciteful [sic] pro-Kremlin, anti-western propaganda that seems as if it's taken from a template, so repetitive are the statements. Furthermore, these comments are consistently capturing inordinate numbers of 'recommends', sometimes on the order of 10 to 12 times what pro-Ukrainian comments receive."
Guardian comment moderators believe this is an orchestrated campaign.
Russia has worked hard to make people believe that the country is supporting the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine and defending those people against some type of threat. These "comment mills" play into that strategy.
Last year, The Atlantic wrote about how the Russian government apparently pays people to "sit in a room, surf the Internet, and leave sometimes hundreds of postings a day that criticize the country's opposition and promote Kremlin-backed policymakers."
This practice isn't new, according to The Atlantic. But it can stifle open discussion about political issues in Russia, giving a louder voice to those who support the Kremlin.
http://www.businessinsider.com/putin-paying-people-to-post-pro-russia-propaganda-in-comments-2014-5
a) Weakens America/AmericansThere are NO counter examples.
b) Distances America's allies
c) Strengthens America's enemies
d) Attacks Christianity
e) Serves islam
f) Harms Israel
Or some combination of the above.
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