Posted on 08/19/2005 4:09:22 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
President Vladimir Putin (file photo) (CTK) Russian President Vladimir Putin called yesterday for a timetable for pulling foreign troops out of Iraq. The Russian leader said many Iraqis view the foreign troops as "occupiers" and suggested the withdrawal will encourage insurgents to abandon violence in favor of contributing to the creation of the state. The United States was quick to reject his call, saying it is still too early for a pullout.
Moscow, 19 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Speaking to reporters in the Black Sea resort of Sochi after a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah, Putin first reiterated his call for an international conference on Iraq.
Putin disapproves of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and insists such a conference might help bring peace to the strife-torn country.
Then the Russian president went one step further. He said it is imperative to draw up a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq.
“We deem it necessary to work out a timetable for the gradual withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq," Putin said. "Many Iraqis, we know this well, still consider these forces to be occupiers."
Encouraging Iraqi insurgents to take part in their country’s political process, he added, is another argument in favor of a swift pullout.
“Resolving this task will enable a significant part of the armed Iraqi resistance to be brought into the process of creating a state," Putin said.
President George W. Bush has consistently rebuffed international calls to set a schedule for withdrawing the 138,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. Putin's plea was no exception.
A few hours after the Russian president's statement, U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told a news briefing in Washington that Iraq was not yet ready for a withdrawal of foreign troops.
"I think [U.S.] President [George W.] Bush has spoken very clearly on our views on the issue of security assistance to the Iraqis," McCormack said. "As Iraqis stand up [increase] their capabilities, we and the multinational forces will be able to stand down [withdraw]."
McCormack also suggested the United States had little intention to hold an international conference on Iraq by the end of the year, as Putin proposed.
"We did, recently, have an international conference that was organized in Brussels, which had great attendance from around the world, from around the region, from Europe -- there was a delegation from Russia there, I believe, as well -- in which countries came together to express support for Iraq," McCormack said.
Putin has openly opposed the Iraq war. But this is the first time he has made such a clear-cut statement on the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq.
Putin’s statement comes just days after Russia carried out military exercises in the Barents Sea during which new intercontinental ballistic missiles were tested.
Yevgenii Volk, a political analyst and the director of Moscow's Heritage Foundation think thank, said both events indicate Putin might be trying to gain more influence in world affairs by flexing his country's military muscle.
“It is significant that the declaration was made directly after the Northern Fleet’s military exercises where, whatever people might say, scenarios of an atomic war with the U.S. were developed," Volk said. "This [declaration] is clearly a display of strength, and Putin is showing that Russia’s military power must and can translate into the strengthening of its political influence, no matter where the area of conflict is located.”
Russia and China also launched unprecedented joint military exercises yesterday amid U.S. concerns that the two giants might form a military alliance.
Soul...you speak pure truth. We always knew he was a scumbag.
No way. The U.S. couldn't possibly extend that consideration to the United Nations.
If the Bush administration were to put this kind of responsibility in the hands of the United Nations, then it would utterly vindicate the cynicism of a lot of us who never believed the war had anything to do with defending the U.S. in the first place.
Did the Ruskies give us a timetable when they would withdraw from the occupied countries?????
Must be the Post of the Day.
Dear Putin,
When you are standing on your deck and you can see mushroom clouds raising from what used to be Iran, we will be done with Iraq.
The UN is corrupt, and it should know how to deal with corrupt people.
Exactly...he confused the dollars from oil-for-food with soldiers.
Will you please run on the Republican ticket for prez please?
Putin withdrew his Spetnax on the eve of our invasion.
After they helped Saddam "clean up" some of his old Russian purchased "equipment".
Make that Spetznaz and it is closer to the correct spelling ;)
Ohhh good.
"Then the Russian president went one step further. He said it is imperative to draw up a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq."
Does this not have the sound of the Soviets and Vietnam peace talks?
Wonder what plans Putin has for Iraq once we leave.
Putin is rootin' for IRAN!!! A little NUKE action with is muzzie friends...
sTfU Pooty Poot!
LOL.....Ok, but in real life, I am NOT a nice guy. LOL
Ping...
Kill A Commie For Mommie
Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes
It does bing up the point that Putin (along with other enemies in the world) would not feel half so cocky as he does without the continual attacks of the Democrats. We must at this point really at least consider that the Democrat obstructionism goes beyond narrow and thoughtless political gain for their party. It is beginning to openly verge on treason.
These utterances when placed along side the recent war games with China, the SCO nonsense in the CIS and China's offer of military assistance to Iran, bodes ill.
What is up?
Looks like Putin is having too much Vodka these days.
ping!!!!!!!
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