From: Free Bird  (Original Message)    Sent: 3/9/2008 9:07 AM

Regarding Vladimir Putin and the upcoming American Presidential race I have some good news and I have some bad news.

One of the TV journalists asked the Democratic candidates about their opinion of President Putin. Both candidates were basically in agreement about the Russian president. They spoke of how democratic reforms had been circumvented and the increasing concentration of power Putin had acquired made him a virtual dictator. They commented about Putin's KGB background and how it seemed the former secret police now called the FSB has a large number of members involved in running the country. It was like they were describing a little weasel you had to watch all the time or he would break into your chicken coup and kill all the chickens. It's clear they don't particularly like Putin and most definitely do not trust him. The good news is many American politicians are savvy about the intentions and integrity of Vladimir Putin. The bad news is not one of them mentioned the Chechen rebellion and Nazi like tactics of the Russian Army directed by Putin himself dealing with the rebels and civilians of Chechnya.

On the Republican side President George Bush commenting on their initial meeting with Vladimir Putin on June 1, 2001 in Slovenia said "I looked the man in the eye. I was able to get a sense of his soul" Later in his press conference he mentioned "its time to move beyond Cold War attitudes, away from mutually assured destruction towards mutually earned respect. "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straight forward and trustworthy and we had a very good dialogue."I was able to get a sense of his soul."He's a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country and I appreciate very much the frank dialogue and that's the beginning of a very constructive relationship," You have to understand George Bush is one of dumbest Presidents in our history. Either his stupidity or influence by Big Oil Corporations or fear of Saddam or possibly a combination of all three factors caused him to allege to the American people weapons of mass destruction and Saddam's involvement in the September 11rth attack to justify his invasion of Iraq. After thousands of American lives and an unknown number of innocent Iraqi civilian lives we now know there were no weapons, of mass destruction and Saddam had nothing to do with the attack on the World Trade Center. If the Republican candidate echoes and defends George Bush's opinions and policies in dealing with Putin he's going to look like Putin's idiot stooge and the Democrats will use that fact as yet another moron policy along with Bush's war in Iraq to gain votes and work their way to the American Presidency. Yes, Bush's war in Iraq and his being a bosom buddy of Count Dracula, Vladimir Putin, will hurt the Republicans and help the Democrats in the American Presidential election.

If only one American journalist would pose this question in the Presidential debates it would take the first step in educating the American public about the ruthless war waged by Putin's government in Chechnya.
The question -
"If you were elected President what steps would you take to stop the terror, torture and bombing of civilians in Chechnya?"