Bush: Putin Has "Derailed" Democracy

Criticism Likely To Fuel Animosity Over Missile Defense Plan Ahead Of Bush-Putin Meeting

(CBS/AP)  Plante reports that no matter how much Mr. Bush tells Putin the defense system is not aimed at Russia, Russia is likely to believe that it is.

Russian-European affairs expert Leon Aron tells CBS News that President Putin's tough stance on the missile defense plans may have more to do with domestic politics than dredged up Cold War sentiment.

Aron explains that Putin is nearing the end of his presidency, and "it's at this time that the man in charge needs to show that he's not afraid of anybody… that he is in charge and he is strong enough to challenge the West."

Mr. Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, however, called Putin's rhetoric "not helpful."

Putin's latest comments come on the heals of an invite from Mr. Bush to meet in Washington in July, to discuss the missile defense plans and other issues of contention, reports CBS News White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

But that confrontation will likely come much sooner now, with Mr. Bush scheduled to meet Putin in two days in Germany on the sidelines of the upcoming Group of Eight summit.

Hadley, the president, and other U.S. officials have sought to cool down the situation — to no avail. They insist the network is meant to protect NATO allies against a missile launch from Iran, not Russia.

Despite its conciliatory tone, President Bush's initial comments in Prague could be overshadowed by the later statement on Russia's slow progress on democratic reform.

With the Iraq war raging and that country in disarray, some criticized Mr. Bush's effort to refocus attention on his "freedom agenda" — the byproduct of the president's promise to predicate U.S. relations with all nations on their treatment of their citizens and to advance democracy in every corner of the globe.

Mr. Bush claimed the mantle of democratic warrior.

"I pledged America to the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world," he said. "Some have said that qualifies me as a dissident president. If standing for liberty in the world makes me a dissident, then I'll wear the title with pride."

"The reality is the initiative is in disarray," said Grant Aldonas, an international business scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a former U.S. Commerce Department undersecretary in Bush's first term. "Following the outcome of Iraq postwar, when you travel the world, people react with cynicism when you talk about freedom and democracy at this point."

Mr. Bush's message is typically better received in small, newer democracies. The Czech Republic, for instance, has deployed troops to help support the U.S.-led campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The president was invited to make the speech as part of a conference on democracy hosted by Natan Sharansky, a former prisoner of the Soviet regime who has continued to champion freedom, and former Czech President Vaclav Havel, who led the Velvet Revolution that ended communism in the former Czechoslovakia in 1989. The president also plans to meet with current and former dissidents from around the world.

From Prague, Mr. Bush was to travel to Germany's Baltic Sea resort town of Heiligendamm for three days of meetings between the leaders of the world's eight major industrialized democracies. The rest of his eight-day European trip was to include a stop in Poland — also a proposed site for part of the missile defense system — as well as visits to Italy, Albania and Bulgaria.

[michellem99-2009]

toyouso21 dear not Maine...NO..He is not liked there..His daddy has a home there and I know Mainers as I am one..if his daddy did not have a home there...He is an outsider..well..my family is there and outsiders are not really liked....if they don't mind their business...you are a leant lady so yes you be welcomed there. GW Bush got a dui in76 in Maine. I lived in Portland Maine at the time.. He is at the time a drunk..yet LOOK where he is, toldyouso21 you would be a very good teacher is you wished to do so..I may be poorly school but I know a wolf in sheeps skin..

[sjc_1]

Let me get this straight, the missile defense system is suppose to be for Iran and North Korea, but the missiles are in Poland...right...how does that work?

[agnim]

"Bush: Putin Has "Derailed" Democracy"

GOOD FOR THE RUSSIANS!

Who has the right to impose their system of governance on others?
This aim of world domination by way of the devilish 'divide and rule' democracy should be defeated everywhere.

If a nature wants to VOLUNTARILY adopt a system of governance, that's fine. But outsiders should not be imposing their stuff on others and disrupting people's lives.

[cozzicon]

"What if they threw an Arms Race and nobody came?"-- Posted by cneron

Now that is a party I'd love to see!

American President: "Ya know Mr. Russian Premier, we're just too busy to attend. Gotta work on the space program, socio-economics, and international relations. Here's a gift certificate for a free steak dinner and a box of assorted lotions".

Russian Premier: "Assorted lotions? Da! Alright. Here, have some Kiesh. The scheduled arms race conflicted with my appointment for a colonic anyhow. Wanna sell us some corn?

[muzzlebush]

I don't think the aristocratic, dictatorial Bush administration which has trampled repeatedly on the Constitution should scold anyone on the derailment of democratic reforms.

[drummer94]

I wonder what Bush's REAL agenda is. He reminds me of the guy who starts too many projects at once,and never finishes any of them. Just likes to start 'em. If he starts this latest one, I think the world is gonna be in even deeper doo-doo.

[realpatriot1]

Putin derailed democracy by beating out Americans for Central Asian pipeline contracts. That's what this is about.

[toldyouso21]

"Putin's latest comments come on the heals of an invite from Mr. Bush to meet in Washington in July, to discuss the missile defense plans and other issues of contention, reports CBS News White House correspondent Jim Axelrod"

The word is HEELS not heals ---somebody tell all of these news sites to get human proof readers instead of depending on spellcheck. We bloggers are prone to mistakes due to the fast typing and need to convey a point in virtual shorthand--but if this is a news article, then it illustrates the dumbing down of America principle.

CBS quotes their poll stats incorrectly, often mispells words or uses grammatically incorrect sentences--which is why to paraphrase our dear leader:

"some of you are A and B students and will no doubt do well, but I say to the C student--One day you, too can be President of the United States" Yep the ascendancy and celebration of mediocrity and ignorance. Goes well with our global policies.

[toldyouso21]

As for the rest of Bush's ideas, I can't support him at all, but this one is good. North Korea sells missiles to anyone with the cash. Syria, Iran, Libya and Pakistan have regular accounts with North Korea's missile store.
Posted by downtowner97 at 10:41 AM : Jun 05, 2007

Then you kill your own premise. If they sell to anyone with cash, then they also can sell to a ...European who wants to settle a score. Crazy killers are not all Arab, you know.
What exactly makes sense about having a deterrent system in Europe for missles from NK or Iran and Syria? They are too far away and they do not have the delivery systems. they might someday--but even so, why build in Europe? If a missle aimed at Europe is knocked down by us over Europe, the payload and fallout would be...all over Europe.Why not build the same system to do the same thing in Turkey or Saudi Arabia or Israel. IN the case of Israel, at least they could see the need (because it could be used for them too) and the payloads could still be knocked out in time over the countries sending them.

Funny, how the people don't want it--but that never has stopped Bush.

Most can see this is a power move by the US--but the timing --we are in a protracted and bumbling war we are having a hard time winning or even handling, and our answer is--to go after Iran and alienate Russia AND China. (you better believe it) Maybe it's time to shave Bush's head and look for those 3 sixes.

[toldyouso21]

Those who elected Bush did not do it because he was smooth or smart. (SS) They did it because he could cariacature being the western hero better than anyone else in the field. Not that he really is good or decent or honest or even right--that does not matter to a generation short on substance--long on illusion.

We are the TV generation and nothing is real. We keep thinking we can change the channel or rewind the tape and have a do over if things get really bad. Bush: he is a sound bite, walking around like a human--bumping into every wall and tripping over every nuance.

soundbites don't have eyes or common sense. They just have effect.