From The Observer:Vladimir Putin delivered a barbed retort to George Bush's muted criticism of Russia's democratic record yesterday when he told reporters at a joint press conference that he did not want to head a democracy like Iraq's.
Bush said that, during two hours of discussions, 'I talked about my desire to promote institutional change in parts of the world like Iraq where there's a free press and free religion. I told [Putin] a lot of people in our country ... would hope that Russia would do the same thing. I fully understand, however, that there will be a Russian style of democracy.'
Putin replied, smiling: 'I'll be honest with you: we, of course, would not want to have a democracy like in Iraq. Nobody knows better than us how we can strengthen our own nation. But we know for sure that we cannot strengthen our nation without developing democratic institutions. And this is the path that we'll certainly take; but certainly we will do this by ourselves.'
GNN has the video link.
Translation: Smack Down.
2 comments:
I saw this on CNN. Loved it.
Of course, I douby Putin would know democracy if it walked up and smacked him. Or kissed his tummy.
Most leaders scorn Bush to his face. No one noticed when the leader of China visited the US, he visited with IT business leaders first, and gave Bush 1 hour at the end of the trip. Which Bush screwed up. Before GW, no leader would have given the pres. that kind of snub.
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