Dubya downplays Russia's potential threat
President Bush has been downplaying any threat Russia's Vladimir Putin could be to the rest of Europe. But really, what does he know, and should he be speaking for any concerned in Europe?
In this article, he says:
It's sad to say, but Russia is returning to Communism, with or without the USSR in place. And the US government shouldn't be maintaining relations with them if that's how they're going to act now. Eventually, they will have to sever relations and free trade with Russia for as long as dictators like Putin are going to be running things over there.
In this article, he says:
HEILIGENDAMM, Germany (AP) - President Bush on Wednesday discounted Vladimir Putin's threat to retarget missiles on Europe, saying "Russia's not going to attack Europe."I don't think that's getting anywhere, or answers anything at all. Putin has returned Russia to communism, having closed a lot of communications in the country or brought them under government control, and may even be guilty of rubbing out dissidents such as Litivenenko, the former Russian official who was poisoned in London a couple months ago.
Bush, in an interview with The Associated Press and other reporters, said no U.S. military response was required after Putin warned that Russia would take steps in response to a U.S. missile shield that would be deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic.
"Russia is not an enemy," Bush said, seeking not to inflame a heated exchange of rhetoric between Washington and Moscow. "There needs to be no military response because we're not at war with Russia. ... Russia is not a threat. Nor is the missile defense we're proposing a threat to Russia."
It's sad to say, but Russia is returning to Communism, with or without the USSR in place. And the US government shouldn't be maintaining relations with them if that's how they're going to act now. Eventually, they will have to sever relations and free trade with Russia for as long as dictators like Putin are going to be running things over there.
