Bush reacts to criticism by Russia´s president with friendship.
July 5th, 2007
How different things would have been if he had used the same type of diplomacy on people who criticized the war in Iraq.
There would be no Libby commutation or pardon necessary.
This isn’t bashing Bush. It’s just a what if and a thought.
Written by GussPresident Bush´s support for Vladimir Putin at their brief summit puzzles Russia scholars, who say the Russian president is being rewarded for behavior the West should be discouraging.
At the end of Putin´s visit to the Bush family compound on the rugged Maine coast, Bush praised the Russian leader for his truthfulness and frankness _ evidence that Russia is once again considered a nation to be reckoned with.
“Here´s the thing, when you´re dealing with a world leader, you wonder whether or not he´s telling the truth,” Bush told reporters Monday. “I´ve never had to worry about that with Vladimir Putin. Sometimes he says things I don´t want to hear, but I know he´s always telling me the truth.”
Later, Putin seemed to equate Russia´s record on human rights and press freedom _ both widely criticized _ with that of the United States.
“Speaking of common democratic values, we are guided by the idea and principle that these are important both for you and for us,” Putin said. “Even in the, shall we say, sustainable democracies, mature democracies, we see basically the same problems … It has to do with the relationship with the media; it has to do with human rights.”
Bush did not react to the evident comparison.
Bush and Putin have had a personal friendship since June 2001, when both held their first summit in Slovenia. “I looked the man in the eye,” Bush told reporters after that meeting. “I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy … I was able to get a sense of his soul.”
The friendship has undergone strains that might have wrecked others. In February, the Russian president accused the U.S., and by implication the Bush administration, of using “an almost uncontained hyper use of force” in global affairs.
And in recent months, Putin seemed to compare the U.S. to Nazi Germany, and threatened to target Europe with missiles if the U.S. builds a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic, as planned.
Posted in 9 Responses to “Bush reacts to criticism by Russia´s president with friendship.”
“How different things would have been if he had used the same type of diplomacy on people who criticized the war in Iraq.
There would be no Libby commutation or pardon necessary.”
Sorry, but I have to call BS on that, Guss. Bush never ranted nor raged against his critics. He’s always said that he understands they have different opinions. He’s always said that people see things differently.
What you’re doing with your statement is projecting, taking the view of Bush’s critics and making it reality. If anything, Bush has been too much of a gentlemen with his critics. He hasn’t fought back against them, which is one of the conservative laments about him.
Unless I’m misunderstanding, and you’re thinking about dissent inside the administration and the entire state department/CIA/intelligence bureacracy, in which case, I still call BS. Again, you can’t take what his enemies say about Bush at face value, because there have been so many lies told about the man, mostly from the left, that sorting out the truth is going to take a long time — especially if you automatically discount what the people at the top of the administration say.
Big Mo,
It might be BS to you and you have a right to that opinion. It just doesn’t happen to be mine.
Well, how true. Just try actually reading what Bush says in full. Have you (seriously asking; not being combattive about it.) Most people – left and right – have a spectacular inability to do that–especially the clowns in the media. They have their template for Bush, then pick what fits the template.
For example, all the hardcore conservatives who went nuts over immigration should have known it was coming because Bush’s position on it has been consistent from the very begining of his presidency. Then they cried foul when he didn’t do what they demanded. But guess what? They failed to listen to him/read what he actually said.
Big Mo,
I was only trying to make the point that President Bush can be a very convincing diplomat when he wants to. I was also pointing out that if he had used better judgment when it came to Joseph Wilson things might have been different for Libby.
If you think he had nothing to do with it, that’s even more troubling because he should know everything that is going on in his administration and at least fired the people responsible. He did none of those things.
He has a serious problem with loyalty to the point of his own downfall. If these people had the same feelings for him they wouldn’t have betrayed him.
Big Mo,
He is my president to but I am not as trusting as many. I’ve tried many times to give him the benefit of the doubt but it seems every time I do, things work out different.
There’s no doubt in my mind that he is a good an honest man. I wish I could say the same for the people working around him and totally making his administration look bad.
I don’t agree with all the investigations going on because I think they’re a waste of time. I also think that the Congress should spend their time in a much more productive way. If they turned their hatred for Bush into care for the people that elected them, this country would be a better place.
By the way, I have read, listened and watched every press conference and television appearance that President Bush has attended. I have seen nothing to change my opinion.
” was only trying to make the point that President Bush can be a very convincing diplomat when he wants to. I was also pointing out that if he had used better judgment when it came to Joseph Wilson things might have been different for Libby….
He has a serious problem with loyalty to the point of his own downfall. If these people had the same feelings for him they wouldn’t have betrayed him.”
AH! Now that I understand what you were getting at, and agree with you. There are many people he should have fired a while ago, tis true!
And he definitely has the capacity to be diplomatic. (Unfortunatley, some people will not reciprocate no matter what.)
Me, personally, I stay away from the pressers, both because he’s usually awful at them and because the reporters are obnoxious jerks. I was thinking more of his speeches without the pressers attached to them.
My evaluation of the Bush presidency is already forming, and one of the key components will be — naturally — the just absolutely baffingly terrible communications. This White House could have been — should have been — better than it was.
the just absolutely baffingly terrible communications. This White House could have been — should have been — better than it was.
Then I think we are in agreement.
Big Mo,
If you don’t understand the point I’m getting at. Please don’t comment because you confuse the hell out of me.
I could try German…
