MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Friday that the war in Iraq is the "most serious crisis the world has faced since the Cold War."
Speaking to members of the Russian Parliament, Putin said the war in Iraq has gone beyond the bounds of a "localized" conflict and is "shaking the foundations of global stability and international law."
The war, he said, is becoming more "fierce" and "drawn out."
"With every hour," the Russian president said, "human casualties and destruction are mounting, peaceful citizens are dying -- children, old people, women. American and British soldiers are dying, as are Iraqi servicemen."
Putin said Russia believes the only way out of the situation is to "immediately end military action and re-start the process of political solution within the framework of the U.N. Security Council."
Russia, he said, is open to working with all sides involved in the conflict, including the United States.
"The level and character of our relations with our American colleagues reached over the past few years gives us the basis for continuing an open dialogue," he said.
GrandAdmiralPrawn wrote:Drawn out? It hasn't even been going on for two weeks yet! Dumbass. Fuck Russia, that pack of has-beens....
Whatcha expect? He getting to the people that does not to know how long the first Gulf War was *which was about 5 weeks* and it's only been 2..... after that he can get those uninformed people to think wars are fast and quick and that US isn't going fast enough.
Cyaround,
Jason
I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season."
All Putin is worried about is reviving Russia to the glory days of the old Soviet Union.
He wants things to be like they were (sans constant threat of nuclear war...). The old NATO vs. Warsaw Pact world, the world where Russia had power. Not to say they don't, as they still are a big player in world politics, but he wants to have the glory of the old Russia back.
I think that is one reason he is siding with the Iraqis, simply because the US is against them.
Putin is testing the waters. Just like the French. Seeing what kind of stuff the Bush administration is made of. Lining up with other nay-sayers; getting the French to push forward with their dirty work as they stand behind, safe in the confidence that the Bush doctrine has a place for them.
Moscow - just like all the other European capitals now home to governments advocating an immediate withdrawal - yearns for the day when it will be able to do more than just send Iraq some old IR goggles and rocket-propelled grenades via front companies to "deliver a message of displeasure." Yes indeed. They look forward to the time when we'll be fighting in another Iraq - all while trucks continue to rumble across the border flush with Russian equipment and French supplies. Not good.
'Ahhem' [rant] I am sick and tired of hearing shit like this. "Drawn Out"? "Oh my God, the war has been going on for nine days, oh the humanity. How much longer is it gonna take.'' It's like being on a car trip, with a bunch of kids constantly asking "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" It's a fucking war; these things take time. (time out, Kelly O'Donnell is reporting, damn she's hot.) Anyways. I don't know what people were expecting, but they need to calm the fuck down. The reporters need to stop asking the same question every day; about how much time it's taking. It's gonna take as long as it takes, so sit down, and shut up, or I'll pull the car over and butter your heads.[/rant]
MM's Zentraedi Warlord/CF's Original Predacon/JL's Mad Titan
Seeing as Putin's War in Chechnya has been "drawn out" since, oh, 1993(?), we probaly shouldn't listen to his definitions of "Drawn out".
"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."
Axis Kast wrote:Just like members of this board refrain from bashing America?
Oh, and that gives you the right to bash every country in the world.
Lonestar wrote:Seeing as Putin's War in Chechnya has been "drawn out" since, oh, 1993(?), we probaly shouldn't listen to his definitions of "Drawn out".
It wasn't Putin who started the first Chechen war.
As for his war, he timed it so nicely that he won his first election promising to invade Chechnya, and will now win the second term by promising to pull out.
Axis Kast wrote:What reason is there to bash the Untied States, as opposed to bashing Bush?
Stupid assfucks. Religious fundies. Crazy peaceniks.You get the point.
Besides, there is a difference between the impact of Bush on America and Putin on Russia. Despite for all his efforts, Bush did not change American soceity in a noticeable way, as opposed to Putin, who did change Russia. Just compare Russia under Yeltsin with today's Russia.
There aren't "stupid assfucks" in Russia? Or "religious funddies" and "crazy peaceniks?" What about the much-loved vodka snorters? The always-impressive Mafioso? How about those gang ringers? You get the point.
Putin's influence is debatable. You made the mistake. Accept it. There's no more reason to bash the U.S. than there is to bash Russia from a rational point of view. Put your own opinions aside.
Axis Kast wrote:There aren't "stupid assfucks" in Russia? Or "religious funddies" and "crazy peaceniks?" What about the much-loved vodka snorters? The always-impressive Mafioso? How about those gang ringers? You get the point.
Putin's influence is debatable. You made the mistake. Accept it. There's no more reason to bash the U.S. than there is to bash Russia from a rational point of view. Put your own opinions aside.
Putin's influence is obvious. Just take a look at the Media thread for an example of the changes in Russian society under Putin.
Although you are right. if we are to blame something for Iraq, it should be Bush, not America.
