Putin lashes out at 'wolf-like' America
Dick Cheney's remarks that Russia was sending "mixed signals" over democracy appear to have set off a war of words with the former Soviets at a time when the US is looking for Russian assistance to rein in Iran through UN sanctions.
Vladimir Putin has responded, noting that US military spending is 25 times the size of their own, he stated:
"Good for them," the Russian president said, looking up from his notes, directly at his audience, "but this means we must make our own home strong and reliable. Because we see what is happening in the world. We see it."
He added, in what appeared to be a reference to the US-led invasion of Iraq and its approach to Iran: "As they say, 'comrade wolf knows whom to eat. He eats without listening and he is clearly not going to listen to anyone'." He accused the US of hypocrisy over its criticism of Russia's patchy human rights record.
"Where is all this pathos about protecting human rights and democracy when it comes to the need to pursue their own interests?"
In another veiled reference to Washington's approach to Iraq and Iran, he said: "Methods of force rarely give the desired result and often their consequences are even more terrible than the original threat."
So, apart from risking Russian assistance in preventing Iran from achieving nuclear status, Cheney has also managed to obtain a promise from Russia that it intends to bolster it's military defences.
Good work, Dick. Nice day at the races.
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