Buttie heads to the Baltics

Actually, if I had to guess at the purpose of this trip, I say it's to cash in on the anti-Soviet opportunity, since we seem to be in ramping up of animosity between the US and Russia mode these days.

President Bush travels to Europe Friday for ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. He begins his trip in Latvia.

President Bush meets with Baltic leaders here in Latvia and will take questions from reporters in a joint news conference with the heads of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

  VOA article

That should be interesting.

In an interview with Lithuanian television before he left Washington, President Bush said he will remind Russian President Vladimir Putin that Latvians, Lithuanians, and Estonians do not view this anniversary as a great moment of celebration.

Instead, he says, he will make clear to the Russian leader that there is great angst in the Baltic states over this anniversary. Mr. Bush says he hopes President Putin will work in a cooperative way with these Eastern neighbors because, he says, it is in Russia's interest to have free democracies on its border.

What a dick.

Mr. Hadley says the president's message on this trip is that democracy is not just about gaining sovereignty and declaring majority rule but is increasingly about the rule of law, respecting minorities and safeguarding individual rights.

Like we do with our Islamic citizens.

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