Pooty-poot supports Bush, why don't you?

VLAH-duh-mir Putin:

"I consider the activities of terrorists in Iraq are not as much aimed at coalition forces but more personally against President Bush... International terrorism has as its goal to prevent the election of President Bush to a second term... If they achieve that goal, then that will give international terrorism a new impulse and extra power... We unconditionally respect any choice of the American people... I don't want to spoil relations with either candidate."

I'd be very careful about statements like this, suggesting that you think this through before considering it a good thing for America long-term.

If he's saying that we should vote for Bush because the terrorists don't want us to, then haven't the terrorists won in a way? Given an unprincipled candidate for president - not Bush or Kerry - could we imagine a scenario where that president might invent a terrorist threat or even a terrorist attack as a way to cement a victory? Not a good thought to put in the minds of our future prospective leaders.

Separate from that, there's also of course the fact that Putin is the (former) head of the (now-disbanded) KGB. There's what he's saying, and what we'll take from it. And, he has an idea what we'll take from it, which might be different from what he's saying. And, of course, there might be reasons why he would want Bush that correspond to his ulterior motives rather than a high-minded attempt to join in our WOT.

Politics · Mon, 10/18/2004 - 19:58 · · Importance: 1