Thursday, May 11, 2006 - Page updated at 12:00 AM
Putin takes swat at U.S., Cheney
By The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times
MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin took a swipe at the United States in his
state of the nation address Wednesday, bristling at being lectured by Vice
President ***** Cheney and comparing the U.S. to a wolf - the archvillain
of Russian fairy tales - for doing as it pleases in the world.
During an emotional moment in the nationally televised speech, Putin used
the fairy-tale motif on the need to build a fortresslike house and to
illustrate Russia's need to bolster its defenses. He also suggested that
the United States puts its political interests above the democratic ideals
it claims to cherish.
In his annual address to parliament, Putin said new nuclear and
high-precision weapons will enable his country to maintain a strategic
balance with the United States.
"As they say, 'Comrade Wolf knows whom to swallow,' " Putin said. "He
swallows without listening to anyone. Nor does he intend to listen to
anyone, judging by all appearances."
Putin went on to ridicule those who claim "the need to fight for human
rights and democracy" when they actually have "the need to realize their
own interests."
Putin's remarks implied criticism of such U.S. policies as the invasion of
Iraq to topple former President Saddam Hussein, which Moscow opposed. His
words also appeared to be a response to U.S. accusations that Russia has
curtailed democratic freedoms at home and attempted to bully neighboring
former Soviet states on issues such as energy supply and territorial
integrity.
Speaking to Eastern European leaders in Vilnius, Lithuania, on May 4,
Cheney declared that Russia's government had "unfairly and improperly
restricted the rights of her people," and accused Moscow of using the
country's gas and oil reserves as "tools of intimidation or blackmail."
The White House reacted sharply to Putin's address.
"We're still analyzing the speech, but we are disappointed that it did not
address the concerns that many people have raised about Russia's
commitment to democracy and its use of economic pressure against its
neighbors," the White House said in a statement. "The U.S. continues to
work together with Russia on a number of important security and economic
issues, even as we raise these concerns."
Moscow's fresh assertiveness comes, in part, from rising oil prices, which
have fueled strong economic growth in this energy-rich nation for the past
seven years.
Putin said the United States spends nearly 25 times more than Moscow.
Putin said Wednesday that because the United States so heavily outspends
Russia in the military sphere, Moscow's aim is not to match U.S. forces in
quantitative terms.
"We should not burn money uselessly," he said. "Our responses should be
based on intellectual superiority. They will be asymmetric, less costly,
but they will undoubtedly make our nuclear triad more reliable and
effective."
Over the next five years, Russia will "substantially increase the
provision of strategic nuclear forces with modern long-range planes,
submarines and launchers," Putin said.
"Along with the means of overcoming the systems of anti-missile defense,
which we already have, new types of weapons enable us to preserve what is
undoubtedly one of the most important guarantees of lasting peace, namely,
the strategic balance of forces."
In another apparent barb aimed at the United States, Putin said countries
should not use Russia's World Trade Organization (WTO) membership
negotiations to make unrelated demands.
Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company
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| User: "=?utf-8?B?V29ybGQgV2FyIElJSSAyMDA2IFtUaGUgTGFzdCAyNDAwIERheXNd4pml4oSi?=" |
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| Title: Re: THE 'WOLF' OF THE PLANET |
15 May 2006 01:01:38 AM |
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That Cheney bloke iz *really* in charge -- *not* Dumbo, Doc !!!
He's one real mean mutha !!!
& Az 4 Dumbo, the Texan Flying Chimpanzee -- well he'z just a
puppet of the slimy, sleazy, devious, hideous hook-nosed gerbilfrickers
!!!!
HOOROO
UNCLE WALLY
----0----
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: THE 'WOLF' OF THE PLANET |
11 May 2006 04:03:42 PM |
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The trouble with Wolves is they come in packs, so what is Russia, a
coyote?
LB
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| User: "Doc" |
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| Title: Re: THE 'WOLF' OF THE PLANET |
13 May 2006 07:08:25 PM |
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<leigh8bee@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:1147381422.312989.43880@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
The trouble with Wolves is they come in packs, so what is Russia, a
coyote?
LB
Biblically, via popular interpretation, Russia is the "Bear." Animal
behavioralists will tell you that in a battle between a wolf and a bear,
the bear will likely prevail.
The coyote in this story would, IMO, beDick Cheney and his errant tongue.
Doc
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