News Judgement
“I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country. And I appreciated so very much the frank dialogue.”
In an interview with the Globe and Mail, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to target Europe with missiles, including potentially nuclear weapons, in a dramatic escalation of his Cold War-style showdown with the United States.
Mr. Putin, in an interview at his country residence outside Moscow, said he considers U.S. plans to build an eastern European anti-missile site to shoot down Iranian missiles a provocation aimed at Russia.
Asked what he might do to retaliate, he said he would return Russia to the Cold War status where missiles were aimed at European targets.
“It is obvious that if part of the strategic nuclear potential of the United States is located in Europe, and according to our military experts will be threatening us, we will have to respond,” he said.
“What kind of steps are we going to take in response? Of course, we are going to get new targets in Europe.”
A lot of people, from regular citizens like myself to really smart foreign policy guys, never trusted Vladimir Putin. The guy was ex-KGB, propped up by gangsters and the like. And he became leader of the nation with the second biggest nuclear arsenal in the world. For too long the Bush administration has allowed Putin to have a free hand, to act without diplomatic repudiation and as he has essentially put any media voices opposed to him behind bars, we have essentially allowed a cold-war style dictator back into power in Russia.
And now he’s getting worse.
“I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country. And I appreciated so very much the frank dialogue.”
In an interview with the Globe and Mail, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to target Europe with missiles, including potentially nuclear weapons, in a dramatic escalation of his Cold War-style showdown with the United States.
Mr. Putin, in an interview at his country residence outside Moscow, said he considers U.S. plans to build an eastern European anti-missile site to shoot down Iranian missiles a provocation aimed at Russia.
Asked what he might do to retaliate, he said he would return Russia to the Cold War status where missiles were aimed at European targets.
“It is obvious that if part of the strategic nuclear potential of the United States is located in Europe, and according to our military experts will be threatening us, we will have to respond,” he said.
“What kind of steps are we going to take in response? Of course, we are going to get new targets in Europe.”
A lot of people, from regular citizens like myself to really smart foreign policy guys, never trusted Vladimir Putin. The guy was ex-KGB, propped up by gangsters and the like. And he became leader of the nation with the second biggest nuclear arsenal in the world. For too long the Bush administration has allowed Putin to have a free hand, to act without diplomatic repudiation and as he has essentially put any media voices opposed to him behind bars, we have essentially allowed a cold-war style dictator back into power in Russia.
And now he’s getting worse.
Jesus, we don’t want your stupid Star Wars in our country either, but we’re not going to go all nuclear holocausty about it.
Well, like all simple-minded folk who allow religion to think for them. Simply approach them and say you’re a “Christian” and you’re automatically a “good person”. You don’t actually have to BE good or do good acts, just SAY you’re a Christian.
That’s really simply all there was to it for Putin to bamboozle Bush.
With all due respect, the blame has to go to the US, first Russia got raped by the west in the 90′s setting up the rise of Putin, plus establishing NATO bases in countries bordering Russia, what did one expect? Bush might as well say “Bring It On”to Putin.
Not sure what the beef is. It sounds to me like Putin is looking out for his country. Isn’t that what a leader should do?
Russia under Yeltsin was not exactly free and democratic (possible vote rigging). Russia after the Soviet Union hasn’t been any better — a worse economy but a better human rights record.
Then again, this is Russia, and none of its leader have ever been any good.
So six years ago, the President (ordinarily, his name wouldn’t even matter) makes a statement for public consumption / diplomatic purposes.
Six years later, after a series of not necessarily related events, the man about whom he was speaking does some saber rattling, and this is considered to be bad judgment?
I thought you were supposed to save “Monday morning quarterbacking” for Monday!
So six years ago, the President (ordinarily, his name wouldn’t even matter) makes a statement for public consumption / diplomatic purposes.
First time I ever heard a statement “for diplomatic purposes” that vouched for the state of anyone’s soul.
I am not sure what you mean, Quaker
{cue Nimrod’s snarky remark}
Eight hundred bajillion dollars sez that Bush will cave to Putin.
He has always caved against foes that he can not intimidate. Just ask China how they liked our spy plane.
He is a weak, weak man.
Yeah, if we had a tough Democratic President, he’d kick Putin’s ass.
if we had a tough Democratic President, he’d kick Putin’s ass.
There is no way to know about that one way or the other, but it is a fact that Bush KISSED Putin’s ass.
About 50 years ago, the USSR was run by one of history’s most despicable murderers – worse than Hitler. The core of his ideological regime remained in place until about 15 years ago. However, imperfect the rulers of Russia have been since the fall of the USSR, it is hugely better than it was before. Dumb*ss criticism of Putin is just fine, if thats all you’re capable of thinking about, but don’t be ignorant of context.
Perspective is a good thing. Get some today.
Dumb*ss criticism of Putin is just fine,
Dumb*ss didn’t exactly criticize Putin. He said this: “I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy.”
Just so we’re clear, do YOU “trust” Putin?
Doesn’t matter, he’s not a commie, and that’s all that’s important.
Oh, except he is.
Good to see you deal with your own inferior intellectual product, Nimmer. Saves us the trouble.
And yeah, I confess I don’t like commies. They murdered about five times more than Nazi/fascists. How ’bout you. Their ‘good intentions’ wipe out all those murders?
Wow, dugger. Putin threatens Europe with nuclear missiles and suggests that the threat of Iranian nukes are overblown and you come rushing to his defense because he isn’t Stalin? Brilliant.
On another front, it isn’t simply Bush’s idiotic statement about looking into Putin’s eyes that reveal his lack of judgement. Far more serious is his policy of deploying anti-missile sites in Eastern Europe which has had the exact effect predicted by opponents of the plan: A renewed escalation of the arms race. As Putin said: “There is a violation, an imbalance of strategic equilibrium in the world, and in order to provide for the balance, without establishing our own antimissile defence system, we will need to establish those systems which would be able to penetrate the missile defence systems.”
If Putin starts talking tough and acting crazy, Bush must shoulder some of the responsibility. Actions have consequences, my friends. Of course, i wouldn’t expect conservatives to understand that.
Well, Dugger’s often dependable for his equivalency tests on good and bad. Iraq may be a mire of death and destruction at present, but it was much worse under Saddam, so why complain? American soldiers may have tortured civilians or otherwise acted contrary to the white-hat image we try to cultivate here and abroad, but Saddam Hussein was worse, so why complain?
Putin may be threatening to roll us back to Cold War footing, but Stalin was worse. So why complain?
I merely paraphrased what you said, Dugger. Since you’re dumbideologically crazed enough to believe that being left wing means I clearly have to defend Communism, I thought you might appreciate it.
“Putin may be threatening to roll us back to Cold War footing, but Stalin was worse.”
Just a quibble here but as per my point Bush made the first move on this score by ramping up the rhetoric and plans for putting anti-missile systems in Europe. Putin is responding to Bush’s move in a way that was totally predictable and predicted.
I am not sure what you mean, Quaker
No? Always willing to help!
Mr. Bush said: “I was able to get a sense of his soul”
You described his statement thusly: “the President…makes a statement for public consumption / diplomatic purposes.
These two things go together, yes? Therefore, my comment: “First time I ever heard a statement “for diplomatic purposes” that vouched for the state of anyone’s soul.”
Perhaps your observation is correct–Mr. Bush’s statement was intended for diplomatic purposes. If so, I believe it would be a unique example. I believe a more likely explanation is that the statement was just nonsense.
OK, Putin isn’t Stalin. He does have that going for him.
Nimmer
I have been waiting for you to correct yourself – as you did before. If you don’t in a while, maybe I will choose to address your confusion re commies versus leftists. I have none. -All commies are leftists, but not all leftists are commies – Confuse Shush.
If so, I believe it would be a unique example.
Suppose it was. Does that make it the wrong thing to say?
I wouldn’t have been so effusive with Mr.Putin, given his biography, but I’m not George Bush.