Putin almost defied Bush

The Washington Times ^ | 9/28/03 | Bill Sammon

[Burkeman1]

Ouch!

[Destro]

We used Russia's Northern Alliance to win. We had our allied the Pakistanis backing the Taliban. Kiss Putin's ass.

[Destro]

Because the Northern Alliance is Russia's army. All our allies in the region alas were al-Qaeda linked.

[maui_hawaii]

"When counterterrorist operations began in Afghanistan, we were approached by people through several channels ... who intended to fight against Americans in Afghanistan.

One of these was China.

[Destro]

No--not China. I am guessing the Chechens or Muslim groups promised to ease off Russia in return for blocking the US from bases in Central Asia.

[maui_hawaii]

Looks like you and me both are going to be speculating together.

[Destro]

The Chinese want us there in the short term because Afghanistan was used as a base to attack China too. China also has a Muslim rebel problem.

[Burkeman1]

Shouldn't you be calling for more federal spending in education and medical care while calling yourself "conservative" because you support a war 10,000 miles away and we spend more on Iraqi border protection than we do in our own Country?!

[MJY1288]

"Shouldn't you be calling for more federal spending in education and medical care"

Nope! that's your job as a mind numbed Boston Mass. Liberal

[ServesURight]

Who do you think it was that approached the Russian's about Afghanistan?

If the answer is the U.S., you're wrong.

We did our homework regarding Afghanistan and didn't make the mistakes as other nations (including the then-Soviet Union) did, making us the first nation to successfully conquer that godforsaken place.

[RightWhale]

It sounds like Putin is trying to take some credit for "allowing" the US to defeat the Taliban so quickly.

Both Iraq and Afghanistan are in the old Soviet sphere, and it was the collapse of the USSR that made this rise of Islamoid terroristic fundamentalism possible. The US had to fill the gap, and will withdraw eventually. There is no need and no desire for America to stay permanently inside the sphere of Russian influence past the time Russia regains its strength.

[MJY1288]

Personally, I think it was France, Germany and the Iranians. Maybe even the North Koreans

I would imagine if Putin put a bunch of Divisions on the Afghan border, the whole world would question his mental stability, not too mention, the Soviets are hardly equipeed to fight us in a conventional war or even capable of providing enough arms to the Taliban to make a stand.

Putin did the right thing, The Cold War is over and he knows it. If we're gonna fall, it's gonna be from within, all these antiwwar liberals who would either run from a fight or appease their way out of one. I believe liberals are the biggest threat to our soverienty, this world is a dangerous place and we must confront these bastards on the offensive, not the defensive, They just don't get it,

[Burkeman1]

MJY1288- 12/4/2001. Burkeman1 Feb of 1999. And your from Maryland? A Dem state if there ever was one. But you federal employees stick together don't you?

[MJY1288]

You know what Burkeman1 ??? You are an uneducated juvenile, We elected a Republican Governor and I've been a bodyman all my life and have owned my own autobody business for the last 15 years. I come from a large family that has spilled plenty of blood for this nation and I don't need an idiot lesson from a brain dead antiwar liberal like you. Don't you have better things to do? like paint some anti-war protest signs or something?

[singsong]

Both Iraq and Afghanistan are in the old Soviet sphere, and it was the collapse of the USSR that made this rise of Islamoid terroristic fundamentalism possible
The dirty little secret is that various Christian countries have supported the Islamonazis in order to use them against their bretheren. Reason - competition. The problem is the Islamonazis are not as dumb and actually they play the Christians against each other. Examples: US was using them against Russia and vise-versa, EU is using them against US right now. The Russians stopped the game about 10 years ago, due to bitter experience. US also stopped it after 9/11. EU? Who knows they mey not live long enough to actually learn...

[Burkeman1]

You elected a "Republican Governor"? Geesh - sounds familiar- the last four governors of Massachusetts have been Republican. Lot of difference that made.

I am sorry your family had the same bad luck as mine in "serving" their country in war.

And yes- I do have better things to do- like try to convince people such as yourself that war is not "conservatism".

[Mo1]

I have never said this in public; I'm going to do it today," Mr. Putin announced as he stood next to Mr. Bush at Camp David. "When counterterrorist operations began in Afghanistan, we were approached by people through several channels ... who intended to fight against Americans in Afghanistan.

Hmmm .. wasn't this being discussed just tonight?

[MJY1288]

I never said war was conservative, so don't put words in my mouth. War is what we must wage in this war on terrorism, I understand that your fear of war restricts your comprehension for why it's a neccessary at times like these, but since when does a liberal have vision?

Each and every one of us in my family do not consider their service and their injuries as "Bad Luck" or anything else negative, They look at it as they joined with the understanding that they might lose their lives and feel LUCKY to be a survivor and have led their lives in a fashion not to dishonor those they served with and those who lost theirs lives. You should try it some time, life is much happier when the glass you look at is half full instead of half empty all the time

[Burkeman1]

I appreciate that. But not one in my family "volunteered" for war but a Great Uncle Chaplain - Priest- who won a Silver Star at Anzio. And he held that medal in disdain to his dying day. I had a Great Uncle on my mothers side at Iwo Jima- a draftee- who was never really right again in the head. The rest of my draftee family from WWI to WWII never had much to say about war but simply to avoid it. Thus my Grandfather told my father to join the reseverves in 66 or 65 as he would have had a better chance of being state side. He was right. My father never went to Viet Nam.

If the actions of my family are "liberal" then I guess I am.

[MJY1288]

Not the actions, just the attitudes. After all.... The difference between liberals and conservatives is how they look at things.

I'm glad you have at least admitted your liberalism, it's the first step to recovery