Putin Calls U.S. `Frightening Monster,' Urges French Solidarity

[Purveyor]

May 31 (Bloomberg) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin compared the U.S. to a ``frightening monster'' and urged France to distance itself from its American ally.

``How can one be such a shining example of democracy at home and a frightening monster abroad?'' Putin said in an interview with French newspaper Le Monde transmitted live to journalists in Paris yesterday.

Putin, speaking the day after meeting French President Nicolas Sarkozy, said the U.S. was creating ``new Berlin Walls'' in Europe by pushing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to expand into ex-Soviet states Georgia and Ukraine.

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``France, I hope, will continue to conduct an independent foreign policy,'' said Putin, whose interview was embargoed until publication by Le Monde today. ``This is in the nature of French people, they don't want their country tied down, and any French leader will have to respect that.''

The election of Medvedev, 42, a lawyer who has called for more dialogue between the East and West, has raised hopes of an eventual thaw. Still, Sarkozy decided to meet with Putin, breaking with the tradition of Group of Eight leaders of dealing with Russia at a presidential level, showing the 55-year-old former KGB colonel's dominant influence.

MORE: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=adHBA_CS6GHg&refer=home

[rockymountaindem]

1. "Frightening monster", said Putin

Who evidently hasn't looked in a mirror since 2000.

[atreides1]

6. He's Looked, We Haven't

When did Putin claim that Russia was an example of democracy? As the saying goess "it takes one to know one"!

[bdamomma]

2. strong words there Mr. Putin.

[Vincardog]

3. Putin is correct the evil shits who hijacked our country and started illegal wars of aggression are

`frightening monsters'. We have to drive them out reverse their evil policies and make sure that their ilk can never again infect our government with their fascist bile

[Psephos]

4. Wouldn't happen to have an opinion on Putin's Russia, would you? n/t

[Vincardog]

8. What can you say about them that is not true here now?

Torture?
Genocide?
spying on their citizens?
Mock elections?
Ruled by a corrupt cabal of evil insiders?

[Psephos]

12. I can say that if you posted similar stuff about Putin in Russia you'd be surveilled

Meanwhile, why did you answer a question I didn't ask?

[cbc5g]

14. More like killed or shuttled off to a Siberian prison

That place is a dictatorship. Gays are jailed, dissent is stifled, people killed all the time for speaking out and theres no investigations. You know how I know that place is fucked? Bush looked in Putins eyes and claimed he was a good man. Thats how I know Putin is batshit insane and bent on bringing the Soviet Union back in all its oppressive glory.

[NuttyFluffers]

15. also, what can you say about them that hasn't been their perpetual history.

the land itself has continuously been that violent and antithetical to human rights. it's just how it operates to maintain function. what's sad is to see a proposed antithesis, america, fall from being the mythic shining beacon. however neither land, america or russia, has been a happy land in these past 500 years. hypocrisy, thy name is superpower.

since i believe in checks to power, i wholly encourage two vast and hypocritical powers to negate each other.

[Duke Newcombe]

5. Yes. There is only room for ONE fascistic superpower.

Putin wants his turn.

Duke

[magellan]

7. Putin thinks we're a shining example of democracy at home?

Maybe compared to Russia, but our light has seen much brighter days.

[Laughing Mirror]

9. That's strange. I can't find such language anywhere in LeMonde interview

This is the whole interview, as published in LeMonde.
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/imprimer_element/0,40-0,50-1052321,0.html

It must be another interview Bloomberg is talking about. Wish they'd provide a direct link to the interview they are referring to. Cause it ain't this one.

[damntexdem]

10. Sorry, Putin, by even McClellan has beaten you to it.

And you don't even notice that we're actually building the new Berlin Walls on the Rio Grande?

What even happened to that old KGB spy prowess? Well, actually, come to think of it -- not much.

[Rex]

11. You know your fucked when a monster calls another monster 'frightening'.

Its like Frankenstein shitting his pants after a Ridley Scott alien queen rips him in half.

[cbc5g]

13. Russia is 100x worse than America...even today political humor was BANNED in the media

It's crazy. I am soooo glad I don't live there and I feel for those stuck in that cold hard hell where if you speak out you get polonium in your drink or a bullet in the head.