Putin's interview with Newspaper Journalists from G8 Member Countries

[Dinner]

Meh, we've had numerous threads on this already so you can do your own research. Most people will remember the threads.

[Asmodean]

Frankly, Serb, I am offended by your posting this in defense of Putin. You will have to search for a very!! long time to find a more anti-democratic leader - and add to that his continuing saber rattling against all western countries, it all sums up to a very real dictator and a threat to world peace.

I guess the fact that you are russian speaks in your defense - and then again maybe not. Because you have been suckered in by his sweet talking manners as well as the rest of the apparently incredibly stupid russian population. By being russian, you are actually one of the people who would have the power to do something about him, but no. Forward the Rodina and all that, yes? As long as Putin keeps playing up to the nationalistic feelings in Russia, he is reasonably safe to keep up his game of trying to destroy world peace.

Russia and russians would do well to learn that they are no longer a super-power. Not even a power in the true sense of the word. With the economy in shambles, and even the pretense of democracy gone, Putin is driving Russia further and further towards the brink of a renewal of the cold war. And that is all his doing! I know that he likes to cast the blame westwards but let's remember that he is the one trying to act up when neither Russia's economy nor her status can back it up anymore.

Harsh words, yes, but against ass-holes like Putin, I put everything on the table.

Putin

Putin fan-boys

[RGBVideo]

Originally posted by Asmodean
Russia [..] With the economy in shambles, and even the pretense of democracy gone,

This makes perfect sense if we're talking about Yeltsin. Both economy and democracy have made progress to those of us who paid attention to Russia's internal development in the 1990s.

I'm not going to even bother with the rest of your post, it would be counter-productive, with increased bad feelings on both sides.

[Asmodean]

Originally posted by VJ

This makes perfect sense if we're talking about Yeltsin. Both economy and democracy have made progress to those of us who paid attention to Russia's internal development in the 1990s.

I'm not going to even bother with the rest of your post, it would be counter-productive, with increased bad feelings on both sides.

Fine Disagreement is one thing - fighting another

I freely admit that I do not have "inside" knowledge about the differences between Russia's internal stability in the 90's and now. I do know, however, that democracy in Russia is not well-served with Putins reign.

Oh well - guess it's a matter of where you set your standards

Asmodean

[Arrian]

The economy certainly improved. How much of it is due to Putin's leadership and how much is the result of the rise of energy prices is a matter of debate. But clearly he's been better than Yelstin in that area.

I would dispute that democracy was advanced by Putin, though.

-Arrian

[C0ckney]

Originally posted by Arrian

I would dispute that democracy was advanced by Putin, though.

-Arrian

this is the biggest understatement ever.

[LordShiva]

[BeBMan]

Is that Merkel in the middle?

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by BeBro
Merkel in the middle

Sounds like a TV show.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Asmodean

Are you sure you have enough thumbs here?

I doubt you have to look that hard around the world to find "a more anti-democratic leader" than VP. Is Uzbekistan, for example, still a US ally?

It's also odd that someone who is "offended" by Serb's posts can stake a claim to being a custodian of democracy anyway. I thought democracy was partly about a free exchange of ideas, rather than an implication of 'how dare you disagree, it offends me'. Or does democracy mean agreeing with the government of the USA?

Perhaps I have misunderstood the poster when I got the impression of complete contempt for the Russian people ("the apparently incredibly stupid russian population"), but if I'm right, why would he care about their level of democratic development anyway? Perhaps he would rather they enjoyed the oligarchs, corruption, crime and poverty of the Yeltsin days. Good chap, Yeltsin - did what he was told.

As for Sabre-rattling, yes it's true that when Russia invaded Iraq and moved to set up a missile defence system that nullified the west's nuclear deterrent, the west would be nervous about this, so I will give you that point. Oh wait.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Cort Haus


Are you sure you have enough thumbs here?

I doubt you have to look that hard around the world to find "a more anti-democratic leader" than VP. Is Uzbekistan, for example, still a US ally?

Nope. We cut off aid when they didnt investigate the killings of protestors. They then tossed us out of the airbase there.

They were warmly welcomed in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, however.

Have you taken issue with your Russian friends' support for the dictatorship in Uzbekistan? Or is it only when its an "ally" of the US/UK that it bothers you?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Cort Haus
It's also odd that someone who is "offended" by Serb's posts can stake a claim to being a custodian of democracy anyway. I thought democracy was partly about a free exchange of ideas, rather than an implication of 'how dare you disagree, it offends me'. Or does democracy mean agreeing with the government of the USA?

Since the poster was (IIUC) a citizen of Denmark, why exactly is the govt of the USA implicated in this?

[lord of the mark]

The worst dictator on the planet is undoubtedly Kimmie in North Korea. Among the great powers, our Chinese friends run a one party state that doesnt bother with elections above the local level - Putin's Russia is a paradigm of liberalism by comparison. Among our allies, Saudi Arabia is probably the most undemocratic and illiberal. If youve been around here long, you know we wrestle with that.

[Arrian]

Originally posted by C0ckney


this is the biggest understatement ever.

My father's English. It rubs off...

-Arrian

[Cort Haus]

I'm not saying that Putin smells of roses, and nor was I saying that Uzbekistan's alliance with the US/UK bothered me. I appreciate the update, btw. Might it be argued that the deal with Uzbekistan had served it's purpose, therefore there was room for scruples to be applied?

Lest anyone misunderstand, I'm not making a moral case for Putin, as much as firstly putting his actions into perspective, and arguing that some western reaction to him is either disproportional, or driven by other agendas.

If anyone is trying to restart the cold war, I don't believe it is Russia.