Russian President Vladimir Putin says terrorist attacks in Iraq are aimed at preventing the re-election of U.S. President George W. Bush and that a Bush defeat "could lead to the spread of terrorism to other parts of the world."
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"Any unbiased observer understands that attacks of international terrorist organizations in Iraq, especially nowadays, are targeted not only and not so much against the international coalition as against President Bush," Putin said.
"International terrorists have set as their goal inflicting the maximum damage to Bush, to prevent his election to a second term.
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"If they succeed in doing that, they will celebrate a victory over America and over the entire anti-terror coalition," Putin said.
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"In that case, this would give an additional impulse to international terrorists and to their activities, and could lead to the spread of terrorism to other parts of the world."
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Putin noted that American voters will not decide the election just on Iraq.
"Because of this we must take a realistic approach and be prepared for any development of events," he said. "We respect any choice the American people will make."
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President Putin made it clear Russia remained opposed to the war in Iraq.
"Today, our views on that differ from the views of President Bush," he said.
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http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/10/18/putin.iraq/index.html

Yes you heard it here first people, the new dictator of Russia telling the American how to vote. I don’t know where Putin thinks he gets off telling Americans how to vote. If anything should be the last person who should be talking about “dealing with terrorism” if anything his Bush like stance in Chechnya has made Russia less safe, and more autocratic for no real reason other then fear mongering. Now there is no question that Russia is a state that seems unable to live free, its tendencies are overtly autocratic. A good article in the New Yorker magazine shows how Putin is so complicit on AIDS for instance that Russia’s population will start to die on the streets within the next decade. So to tell Bush (who is not unlike Putin of course, consolidating power, scapegoating, “strong at home and aboard”, Putin also stating his own international pre-emptive strategy, and less democratic freedoms) no wonder why Putin wants Bush. A Kerry presidency would do the unthinkable…question Putin and the merits of his “reforms”. So America do yourself a favour avoid going down the beaten path of Soviet Russia, and don’t listen to the modern democratic despot.

Does this mean all the foreign leaders who endorse Kerry will speak up?

So basically if the terrorist want Bush out, then we should elect him. Basically if some jackass tells you that you should not run off that cliff there, you go ahead and do it, because that guys a jackass and you should never listen to him?

A vote of confidence from Putin is not exactly a good thing. This man arrests and intimidates his political opponents, I don't think he has any right to comment on a real election... I mean, granted America is on the verge of being a one party state, and both candidates are bought and sold on wallstreet, but hey, its freeer than the Russians!

Lol .One of the reason I left my country was this "democratic president" V.V. Putin . - By the time I left Russia practically had no governement independent media left, no real democracy (e.g. no real alternatives for voting) ,wide spread bureaucratism and awfull abuse of power by "power structures" (internal security , police). Meanwhile regualr citizens are mass slaughtered by chechen terrorist and dying from cold , lack of food , medical care ,social security -anything.

Russia is ran by crooks now and Putin is the gang-leader (or a puppet pulled by gang leaders) .

Bush is same kinda of crook ,though america now is still a democratic country and I hope american people will make right choice (even if it happens by accident).


Former Russian with love.

Oh geez, now Putin will become the American conservatives' best friend. You see, France is evil because even though they were America's best friend after 9/11 (Chirac came to NY even before Blair), they don't like Bush. Russia's saintly and wholesome because even though their government is oppressive and corrupt, they're somewhat supporting Bush.

The 'Bush doctrine' has opened up the worm-can for every powerful nation on earth to subjugate its weaker neighbors by extolling 'terrorism'.

The role of mediator for truth and justice has died in America.

Every country can now dominate its citizenry, and invade its neighbors. All the worlds dictators love Bush (save one).

He has doused the light of liberty in his imperical wet dream.

Like Kantian ethics state in essence in its categorical imperative, what if everyone did the same thing you did? That question has not been asked to GWB, or to put in even simpler terms for Bush, and Christian terms as well, “Do unto others, what they would do unto you.”, the golden rule of course. Now that Bush has indeed opened a bad can of worms, the major powers of the world are going to immolate his strategy. It’s a vicious cycle that the world politic has gotten itself into.