WP/AP: Bush Thanks Putin for Help in Mideast (meeting at dacha)

[DeepModem Mom]

Bush Thanks Putin for Help in Mideast
By JENNIFER LOVEN
The Associated Press
Sunday, May 8, 2005; 3:48 PM


MOSCOW -- Despite contentions over Moscow's commitment to democracy, President Bush thanked Russia's Vladimir Putin on Sunday for help on Iran and the Middle East and said "there's a lot we can do together."

The two leaders put an upbeat cast on talks at Putin's dacha at a walled compound in a birch forest 25 miles west of Moscow. The Russian leader even let Bush drive his white Volga sedan around a driveway before heading to dinner with their wives.

"I'm having so much fun. We're going for another lap," Bush said.

The two leaders ignored reporters' questions and kept their real discussions private, so there was no repeat of the contentious debate that flared publicly at a February news conference when they disagreed about Moscow's quashing of dissent and exertion of control in the country.

"Russia's a great nation and I'm looking forward to working together on big problems," Bush said. "And I want to thank you for your help on Iran and the Middle East and there's a lot we can do together."...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/08/AR2005050800139.html

[maxsolomon]

1. news flash: the sky is blue & ice cream is yummy

tom cruise let dustin hoffman drive his car around a driveway in a circle in Rain Man.

i'm just sayin.

[Geo55]

2. LOL......most likely did a better job of it than the idiot prince

[KoKo]

3. Wow WEE...A Volga..! How fast will this thing run?

[susu369]

4. "I'm having so much fun. We're going for another lap," Bush said.

:wtf:

How embarrassing - sounds like a little spoiled child.

Meanwhile, how many brave soldiers died in Iraq today (Mother's Day)?

[chlamor]

5. Bush and Putin in Democracy Row

Bush and Putin in democracy row

Russia's leader criticises voting system, US president warns Moscow not to stir up fears in border states

Nick Paton Walsh in Moscow
Monday May 9, 2005
The Guardian

Vladimir Putin and George Bush yesterday endured one of the bitterest patches of their reputed friendship when the pair made pointed criticisms of each other's democratic record and foreign policy hours before a key meeting.

Mr Putin, who will today host 53 world leaders for the nationalistic pomp and ceremony of a military parade and Kremlin reception marking the 60th anniversary of the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany, told CBS news that, unlike America, Russia does not "poke its nose into democratic system".

The remarks came as the two men met last night at Mr Putin's residence for an informal working dinner. Their widely publicised entente has been overshadowed by growing US criticism of Mr Putin's authoritarian style, and Kremlin fury at theUS's increasing sway in the former USSR.

In a barbed comment suggesting Mr Bush's controversial election in 2000 lessened his right to lecture other states on their democratic record, Mr Putin told the US network: "And you have other problems in your elections. Four years ago, your presidential election was decided by the court. The judicial system was brought into it. But we're not going to poke our noses into your democratic system because that's up to the American people."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,2763,1479556,00.html

[Doctor_J]

6. Smirk tells someone not to stir up fears?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[wtmusic]

7. Junior: "Got any nukes left Vlad? BRING IT ON! I DARE YA!"

The man is a walking catastrophe.

[Doctor_J]

8. He calls him pooty-poot, not vlad

a catastrophe AND an embarrassment

[RoyGBiv]

9. This is beautiful ...

Add one more lovely chapter to the Bush/Putin legacy. They'll single-handedly destroy every bit of progress that has been made in relations between the two nations since the 80's.

Geezus. I'd never have been born if this walking disaster of a President had been in the White House in October of 1962.