What is with Putey?

[lonestarnot]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/04/AR2009080402863.html?hpid=topnews

MOSCOW, Aug. 5 -- A senior Russian general on Wednesday brushed off American concerns about two Russian submarines spotted off the East Coast of the United States, saying the patrols were routine and suggesting that the U.S. Navy carried out similar missions near Russia.

"I don't know if there is any news in this news for anyone," said Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of staff of the Russian armed forces. "The fleet shouldn't sit on its hands and be idle."

Moscow often deployed its submarines off the American coast during the Cold War, but the collapse of the Soviet Union left the Russian military in shambles. Now the Russian navy rarely takes on missions far from its home ports.

[TexasObserver]

1. He wants to prove he is muy macho, in spite of his age and thinning hair.

Like Bush, he's a poser.

[sharp_stick]

2. He longs for the "good ol' days"

Putin is an old KGB agent and bureaucrat who really would love to see the old Soviet Union rise up and restart the cold war because he and all his buddies made a killing with the overpriced weapons programs and he was able to "take care of" enemies without bothersome meddling by people that might not want to see them disappear.

[lonestarnot]

3. I don't like the idea of their old rusty shit cruising around our east coast.

[sharp_stick]

4. At least it's easy to follow

You can probably hear those things cruising along from shore.

[monmouth]

5. Which part of the east coast? I've seen no exact locations....n/t

[lonestarnot]

6. And you prollee won't.

They are nuclear subs. :hi:

[mikehiggins]

7. Let us not minimise the man

At least no one is suggesting we remove Putin in the service of "democracy". Maybe their nukes keeps even the Boltons quiet on that front.

Minimising Putin is a serious mistake, as many in Russia have already learned. He may not be a rocket scientist but he is way smarter than the last bozo who sat in the Oval Office. Barack may be his equal but you don't see him leading any choruses dealing with Putin with anything less than the respect the head of a nation is due.

[PA Democrat]

8. Hoping that the Cash for Clunkers program will be expanded to include obsolete Russian military

hardware?

On a serious note, I hope that this isn't used to justify more military spending.