AP wrote:MOSCOW (AFP) — You've seen Vladimir Putin the bomber pilot, judo expert and fisherman -- but tiger tamer?
Russian media, known for hero-worshipping the prime minister and former president, reported Monday that Putin fired a tranquilizer dart at a tiger that got loose Sunday during a photo-op at a wildlife sanctuary.
According to Interfax news agency, a camera crew from state TV channel Vesti realised the five-year-old tiger had become untied, whereupon Putin leapt into action.
"Thanks to the agile and timely action the tiger was immobilised," Interfax said.
Photos released by state news agency RIA Novosti showed Putin next to a sleeping tiger and holding a gun used to fire tranquiliser darts.
Interfax said Putin kissed the big cat and said "goodbye."
He was visiting the Ussuriisky Nature Reserve in the far east of Russia to see how conservation experts track and study tigers.
The state media carefully honed Putin's tough-guy image during his eight-year presidency, notably in a photo session last year where the diminutive, fitness-mad leader posed bare-chested with fishing rods and rifles.
I'm terribly sorry; I know it's probably propaganda and all, but at the very least it's awesome propaganda. Whoever in the Russian government dreams up these stunts should get a medal, and probably an Emmy as well.
Reuters has an action shot of Putin brandishing a tranq-gun and Putin cradling the poor widdle tiger...
Propaganda or not, Putin's killing two birds with one stone here; not only does the story make him look good, it also draws attention to the tiger preservation project he was visiting, and to his involvement with that project.
Tanasinn wrote:No offense, but this seems to be an obvious enough propaganda stunt as to insult one's intelligence.
It is to us, but to an average low information voter in Russia, it's the equivalent of GWB's ads painting him as a decisive Commander in Chief.
In other words, bullshit, but believable bullshit as far as the target audience is concerned.
"You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours."- General Sir Charles Napier
Tanasinn wrote:No offense, but this seems to be an obvious enough propaganda stunt as to insult one's intelligence.
So did the build-up to Iraq 2, yet here we are.
"Stop! No one can survive these deadly rays!"
"These deadly rays will be your death!"
- Thor and Akton, Starcrash
"Before man reaches the moon your mail will be delivered within hours from New York to California, to England, to India or to Australia by guided missiles.... We stand on the threshold of rocket mail."
- Arthur Summerfield, US Postmaster General 1953 - 1961
Tanasinn wrote:No offense, but this seems to be an obvious enough propaganda stunt as to insult one's intelligence.
It is to us, but to an average low information voter in Russia, it's the equivalent of GWB's ads painting him as a decisive Commander in Chief.
In other words, bullshit, but believable bullshit as far as the target audience is concerned.
Not to mention Putin has a control over the media in Russia that he's been strengthening for years. He can get away with it because he's got plenty of people to sell it for him.
Am I the only person who knows nothing of this stunt, despite being in Russia and watching Russian media?
Lì ci sono chiese, macerie, moschee e questure, lì frontiere, prezzi inaccessibile e freddure
Lì paludi, minacce, cecchini coi fucili, documenti, file notturne e clandestini
Qui incontri, lotte, passi sincronizzati, colori, capannelli non autorizzati,
Uccelli migratori, reti, informazioni, piazze di Tutti i like pazze di passioni...
...La tranquillità è importante ma la libertà è tutto!
Stas Bush wrote:Am I the only person who knows nothing of this stunt, despite being in Russia and watching Russian media?
You're not a 'low information voter', Stas.
Though being serious, it might have been aimed at impressing foreign audiences with just how tough Putin is.
You're more qualified to comment on it than I am though, so what do you think of it?
That said, I'd love to see Putin and Barack Obama compete in a 'Mr. Fitness' competition, given Obama's reputation as a 'gym rat'.
"You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours."- General Sir Charles Napier
You're more qualified to comment on it than I am though, so what do you think of it?
Sensationalist PR stunt created just for the sake of Russian tabloids raising Putin's popularity. Though it is aimed at tabloid rags I guess. Haven't heard about it on the radio .
Lì ci sono chiese, macerie, moschee e questure, lì frontiere, prezzi inaccessibile e freddure
Lì paludi, minacce, cecchini coi fucili, documenti, file notturne e clandestini
Qui incontri, lotte, passi sincronizzati, colori, capannelli non autorizzati,
Uccelli migratori, reti, informazioni, piazze di Tutti i like pazze di passioni...
...La tranquillità è importante ma la libertà è tutto!
I'm terribly sorry; I know it's probably propaganda and all, but at the very least it's awesome propaganda. Whoever in the Russian government dreams up these stunts should get a medal, and probably an Emmy as well.
