Putin Questions Sincerity of Paki & Saudi in Fight Against Terrorism
SunnyD
By RON FOURNIER, AP White House Correspondent
PUSHKIN, Russia (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites)
told President Bush (news - web sites) on Friday the United States should
not wage war alone against Iraq, and he put Bush on the spot by questioning
whether White House allies like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are doing enough
to fight terrorism.
AP Photo
Bush, Putin Discuss Iraq, NATO
(AP Video)
"Where has Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) taken refuge?" the Russian
said in a joint news conference with Bush at an 18th century czarist castle.
The sharply worded question, though not a direct criticism of Bush, touched
a nerve with the U.S. delegation and underscored the frustration felt by
U.S. officials since the al-Qaida leader resurfaced after months of silence
in an audiotape praising recent terrorist attacks.
In Washington, Democratic leaders have accused Bush of focusing on Iraq at
the expense of the broader war on terrorism. Some have suggested the White
House fueled a conflict with Iraq to take command of the agenda for midterm
elections, which resulted in big GOP gains.
Meeting with Putin beneath the golden domes of Catherine Palace, Bush cited
the recent arrest of al-Qaida's Persian Gulf operations chief, Abd al-Rahim
al-Nashiri, as evidence of the U.S.-led coalition's success.
"People who love freedom are one person safer as a result of us finding this
guy," the president said. "We did bring to justice a killer."
But Putin, while issuing a statement in support of Bush's Iraq policy,
followed quickly with severe doubts about the war on terrorism. It was not
clear whether he was putting more weight on the fight against terrorists
than the Iraq conflict, but that implication could be drawn.
"We should not forget about those who finance terrorism," Putin said, noting
that 15 of the Sept. 11 terrorists were Saudi citizens. "We should not
forget about that."
Putin also cited reports that bin Laden is hiding in the Afghanistan (news -
web sites)-Pakistan border region, wondering aloud whether Pakistan
President Musharraf Pervez has done enough to stabilize the area.
"What can happen with armies, arms, weapons that exist in Pakistan,
including weapons of mass destruction?" he said.
Heavy in symbolism, the three-hour stop in Russia was Bush's way of thanking
Putin for supporting a U.N. resolution requiring Iraq to disarm. He came
here from the Czech Republic, where 19 NATO (news - web sites) allies voted
to expand the Western alliance into the former Soviet bloc.
Early this month, as Bush lobbied Putin over the phone for support on Iraq,
the Russian told Bush he should come here after the NATO summit. Unspoken by
Putin - but clear to Bush - was the message that Russians need reassurance
that an expanded NATO won't harm their nation.
"Russia's a friend, not an enemy," Bush said at the news conference.
Putin said he did not think the alliance's expansion was necessary, but
pledged to maintain warm relations with NATO allies, including the new
invitees that were in the Soviet Union's sphere less than a decade ago.
The two leaders released a statement demanding that Iraq comply with the
U.N. resolution or face "severe consequences."
But Putin urged Bush not to go to war without the consent of the United
Nations (news - web sites), a pledge the president has been unwilling to
make.
"Diplomats have carried out very difficult and very complex work, and we do
believe that we have to stay within the framework of the work being carried
out by the United Nations," Putin said.
Catherine Palace was built by Catherine I, wife of Peter the Great, as a
gift for her husband in 1718. Its facade, the longest in Europe, stretches
more than 1,000 feet in a glorious collection of columns, windows and
statues. Inside, the 20,000-piece art collection includes paintings by
European masters from the 17th to 19th centuries and Chippendale furniture.
Bush's courtship of Putin recalls the campaign waged by Bush's father to win
the support of then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev for U.N. resolutions
leading to the Persian Gulf War (news - web sites). The elder Bush offered
political and economic support to the crumbling Soviet empire in return for
Gorbachev's acquiescence on Iraq.
With war on the horizon once again, Russia wants assurances that military
action in Iraq won't jeopardize its economic interests with Baghdad or drop
oil prices so low that it hurts Moscow's already ailing economy.
Though there was little talk about the issue Friday, Bush has assured Putin
he will do what it can on both counts, administration officials said. They
said Moscow may be overestimating America's influence in a postwar Iraq.
Putin fears that lifting the U.N. trade sanctions on Iraq after a war could
trigger an influx of Western oil interests that would collapse oil prices.
The administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said
Russia has been told the United States cannot control oil markets, but Bush
has long supported efforts to keep oil prices stable.
Russia also wants to protect Russian oil contracts in Iraq, and hopes to
recover more than $8 billion in debts owed by Iraq.
Bush has assured Putin that Russia will be a major player in building a
postwar Iraq, officials said, meaning Moscow would be free to pursue its
debts while oil industry competes on an even playing field in Iraq with
Western interests.
On another sticky issue, Bush renewed his hope that Putin can find a
political way to resolve the fighting in Chechnya (news - web sites), which
Russia considers a breakaway province, U.S. officials said. Bush has
acknowledged terrorist elements in the Chechnya.
scorpionic
"peace loving" or "sincere" they may seem religiously or politically.
Regards, SCORP.
"SunnyD" <ju...@junk.com> wrote in message news:<k6BD9.81815$P31.42853@rwcrnsc53>...
inkisaar
> > By RON FOURNIER, AP White House Correspondent
> > PUSHKIN, Russia (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites)
> > told President Bush (news - web sites) on Friday the United States should
> > not wage war alone against Iraq, and he put Bush on the spot by questioning
> > whether White House allies like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are doing enough
> > to fight terrorism.
> >
Putin is a friend of Sadaaam too and defending him from American
raid, that tells the whole world Russian leader's wisdom and IQ level.
He is still burning with the humiliating Russian defeat in Afganistan
under Pakistan & American collaboration. Poor fellow trying to create
trouble for Pakistan with his innocent questioning. God have mercy on
this dumb Russian soul.He thinks Amrerican are stupid enough not to
know what they are doing and what are the facts on ground.
SunnyD
"inkisaar" <inki...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4ec6c399.02112...@posting.google.com...
Sadaam is a less of an evil than Saudi brand of wahhabis and its cronies
like Pakis. Muslim terrorism is nothing but Saudi desire (money) and Paki
resources to control the world. Unless saudis and pakis are destroyed,
muslim terrorism will never go away.
** Bob M.I. Action**
Russia supports anti-American forces.
Now Russia points fingures at USA.
We know where you stand sunny boy!
In article <k6BD9.81815$P31.42853@rwcrnsc53>, SunnyD says...
>
>
>
SunnyD
"** Bob M.I. Action**" <b...@miabob.com> wrote in message
news:5CcF9.596$kV3...@www.newsranger.com...
> Russia makes mess in Afghanistan.
> Russia supports anti-American forces.
> Now Russia points fingures at USA.
>
>
> We know where you stand sunny boy!
Now we know who you are moron. You are a paki and saudi ass-licker. You
probably financed the saudi terrorists who slammed our economy.
** Bob M.I. Action**
Our economy is being wrecked because of the cheap imports and all the jobs lost
to offshore companies.
In article <jpdF9.15438$GR5....@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net>, SunnyD says...
SunnyD
> Sunny boy! You Putin worshipper! Is he the new idol for you?
>
> Our economy is being wrecked because of the cheap imports and all the jobs
lost
> to offshore companies.
Then get an education. DeVry Institute might help.
** Bob M.I. Action**
go check out the Bombay slums.
Namaste
Sat Sari Akal
Salaam
Shalom
In article <2ArF9.147091$WL3.64779@rwcrnsc54>, SunnyD says...
SunnyD
> haha! Look who is talking! Poor Indi is telling the world about education.
Bud,
> go check out the Bombay slums.
>
Slum dwellers in Bombay can beat trailer-trash any day in morality and
education.
DF
> "** Bob M.I. Action**" <b...@miabob.com> wrote in message
> news:nEAG9.1043$kV3...@www.newsranger.com...
> > haha! Look who is talking! Poor Indi is telling the world about education.
> Bud,
> > go check out the Bombay slums.
> Slum dwellers in Bombay can beat trailer-trash any day in morality and
> education.
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"Bob M.I. Action" is a Christian of probable Pakistani background. As
such, he feels inferior as a brownie, in a liliy white USA. So he
attempts to compensate his inferiority by pretending he "belongs" in a
"white" country, and by attempting to try and insult the natural Hindu
superiority.
Note: The "M.I. Action" in his name is a reference to an action figure
doll played with by little children.
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