Putin offers a frosty reception as Bush heads to Moscow
By Ron Hutcheson, Knight Ridder Newspapers
Friday May 6, 2005
RIGA, Latvia -
On the eve of a meeting with President Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned Bush's goals in Iraq and suggested that Russia is more democratic than the United States.
In an interview scheduled for release Sunday, Putin signaled that he's in no mood for any criticism from Bush when the two leaders meet Sunday at Putin's dacha near Moscow. Bush arrived in Latvia late Friday on his way to the Russian capital.
The strains between Bush and Putin were apparent as the two men shadowboxed in advance of their meeting. Bush is traveling to Moscow for a ceremony on Monday marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.
Putin will host a private dinner for Bush and his wife, Laura, the night before the two presidents join more than 50 other world leaders in Moscow's Red Square for a military parade.
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The Russian leader bristled at suggestions that he's backsliding on his commitment to encourage democracy in Russia.
Putin cited the U.S. Electoral College system and the disputed 2000 presidential election as evidence that Russia could be considered "even more democratic" than the United States.
"In the United States, you first elect the electors and then they vote for the presidential candidates. In Russia, the president is elected through the direct vote of the whole population. That might be even more democratic," Putin told journalist Mike Wallace.
"And you have other problems in your elections," he added. "Four years ago, your presidential election was decided by the court."
Putin also questioned Bush's effort to bring democracy to Iraq.
"Democracy cannot be exported to some other place," he said. But Putin, whose opposition to the war contributed to the tensions between the White House and the Kremlin, urged Bush to finish the job in Iraq.
"If the U.S. were to leave and abandon Iraq without establishing the grounds for a united and sovereign country, that would definitely be a second mistake," he said.
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Uh, oh! Vlad's telling THE TRUTH in public! Georgie's not gonna like the man's soul so much this visit! 
by Permanently_Baffled » Thu 23 Dec 2004, 06:41:31 
