Putin's predicament

Putin said each time Russia complained to the Bush administration about meetings held between U.S. officials and Chechen separatist representatives, the U.S. response has been "we'll get back to you" or "we reserve the right to talk with anyone we want."

Putin blamed what he called a "Cold War mentality" on the part of some U.S. officials, but likened their demands that Russia negotiate with the Chechen separatists to the U.S. talking to al Qaeda.

These are not "freedom fighters," Putin said. "Would you talk with Osama Bin Laden?" he asked.

Putin said the Chechen separatists are trying to ignite ethnic tensions in the former Soviet Union and it could have severe repercussions.

"Osama Bin Laden attacked the United States saying he was doing it because of policies in the Middle East," Putin said. "Do you call him a freedom fighter?"

CNN article

Actually, if you're Arab, you might.

But, let's get back to the U.S. dealing with Chechen separatists. The U.S. only flirted with leaving the "Cold War". It sounded good to say that Reagan brought down the Communists and made the whole world into a lovely American-freedom-style happy planet. But of course, behind the scenes, nothing really changed. The CIA and the Neocons continued their overt and covert activities, and a "predictable" idiot was installed in the White House to expedite the march to global domination, which means that Russia not be permitted to recover any of its former military strength or control Pipelinestan, where Chechnya sits.

Putin's comments came a few weeks after the U.S. granted asylum to Ilias Akhmadov, the "foreign minister" of the Chechen separatist movement.

The Russian president also justified the rescue operation in Beslan, conceding that it took time to mobilize the operation.

He said Russian special forces stormed the school knowing they themselves were likely to be killed.

In one dramatic moment, Putin said Russian security forces overheard a disturbing walkie-talkie conversation between the terrorists:

"What are you doing? Why? I hear some noise. What's going on? I'm just in the middle of shooting some children."

"They were bored," Putin said. "So they shot children."

Sure. Evil people do that. Who's to argue that never occurred? Why would they release hostages and then when the Russian security forces storm the place start shooting children out of boredom? What do we have here? Putin's Waco? On the other hand, professional hired "terrorists" might actually get bored and shoot children.

In other comments, Putin said Russia would take its own approach to democratic reform.

"We'll do this at our own pace," he said. Democracy can mean different things in different countries, he said.

"In Russia, democracy is who shouts the loudest," he said. "In the U.S., it's who has the most money."

Ah, Diogenes would be proud.

Of course, everything is about the U.S., isn't it?

Asked about the U.S. presidential race, Putin was complimentary of President George W. Bush, saying he likes him. He is a friendly, decent, predictable person, but "it is not about personalities," Putin said.

He said polls in Russia show 7 percent support for Bush, and 25 percent for Democratic challenger John Kerry.

Well, it's apparently about personalities over here where we are actually doing the voting. But once His Slowliness the Dope is reinstated, we may well just dispense with the voting bit. It's time consuming and wastes a lot of money. On the other hand, if we can run Zell Miller against Jeb Bush in the 2008 race, maybe they'll still let us vote. Come to think of it, if Butthead's numbers get too low in October, we may find ourselves in an emergency lockdown and have to call off this election.

Just tell your redneck Republican friends that the Russkies like John Kerry. See how much of that Cold War mentality is gone.

He insisted that Chechnya was a vital part of Russian territory, and that his government would pursue a political solution.

"We will strengthen law enforcement by staffing the police with Chechens, and gradually withdraw our troops to barracks, and leave as small a contingent as we feel necessary, just like the US [did] in California and Texas," Putin said.

Jerusalem Post article

Of course, just like the situation with California and Texas, if you weren't taking the land from someone else in the first place, you wouldn't need to leave any troops there.

Just saying.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.