Putin Opines on Iraq Election Date (the tension heats up)

[maddezmom]

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites) said Tuesday he could not imagine how Iraqi elections scheduled for Jan. 30 could be held under current conditions.


"Honestly speaking, I cannot imagine how it is possible to organize elections under the conditions of occupation by foreign forces," Putin said in televised comments during a Kremlin meeting with interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.


The Bush administration has said it plans to stick to the Jan. 30 date despite the ongoing violence.


Putin's remark follows angry words in the past several days apparently directed at Western countries for their criticism of elections in Ukraine. The victory of a candidate supported by Putin, Viktor Yanukovych, was overturned by the Supreme Court amid allegations of fraud, and a revote with opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko was set for Dec. 26.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=1&u=/ap/20041207/ap_on_re_mi_ea/russia_iraq

[LaBanty]

1. The pot calls the kettle black

I think when Putin feels overwhelmed he gets a bit hypocritical. And, he's overwhelmed a LOT. He isn't exactly the pillar of pristine elections and human rights himself.

So, Mr. Putin, shut the hell up and clean up your own back yard.

[nickshepDEM]

2. LOL, nicley said.

[kostya]

3. Whereas it's ok to just ignore Bush's totally unrealistic pigheadedness?

Methinks your comments about being hypocritical are misdirected. - K

[LaBanty]

5. Bush Isn't Wholly Unique

Bush is not necessarily unique in his pigheadedness. There are numerous countries who commit atrocities against people on a daily basis, from election fraud to civil rights violations.

To focus singly on Bush is ignoring the larger picture. It isn't about forgiving Bush "because other people do it", it's demanding that countries that choose to point the finger hold themselves to a higher standard, and that we are not so focused on hating Bush that we ignore other global transgressions.

[maddezmom]

4. welcome to DU. LaBanty...seems to me lots of double speak one both sides

earlier comments from Colin Powell:

~snip~

He also challenged Russia to take steps to withdraw its military forces from two former Soviet republics and expressed concern over restrictions in Russia on press freedom and the rule of law.

~snip~

At a news conference before his speech, Powell denied that the West was playing sphere of influence games in Ukraine in the name of democracy.


"The people of Ukraine are playing democracy in the name of freedom," he said. He said the people of Ukraine are saying: "'We want free, fair and open elections.'"

more: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041207/ap_on_re_eu/powell_1

[bemildred]

6. Pooty-Poot should know.

He ain't had a lot of luck with his fake elections in Chechnya.

[Toby109]

7. What is Putin up to?

One theory is that Putin thinks there was CIA involvement in the Breslan terrorist attack and is ratcheting up anti-U.S. rhetoric until he has proof. Same and more goes for Ukraine.
Another is, he is desperately trying to maintain control of the oil reserves of the Caspian Sea and the necessary pipelines. The U.S. is building military bases throughout the Stans all along the Trans-Afghani pipeline. All brought to you by Unocal, Hamid Karzai and, truth be told, September the 11th, 2001.

[bemildred]

8. Pooty-Poot has no intention of getting in a pissing contest with Bush.

He just takes a cheap shot when he sees it, if Bush has been annoying,
as he has been. That's all this is.