On Tuesday, Putin defended Iran's right to develop a civilian nuclear-power program -- a statement that certainly contrasted with Bush's saber-rattling about Iran.
And yesterday Putin followed up with a series of jabs about the American occupation of Iraq, which he said was driven by a desire to control the country's oil:
MOSCOW, Russia (AP) -- President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the U.S. war in Iraq was a "pointless" battle against the Iraqi people, the latest jab at Washington from the increasingly confrontational Russian leader.
President Putin answered questions about Iraq and the Russian economy among others.
Speaking during an annual televised question-and-answer session, Putin was asked by a mechanic from the Siberian city of Novosibirsk for his thoughts on comments made several years ago by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who suggested that Siberia had too many natural resources to belong to one country.
"I know that some politicians play with such ideas in their heads. This, in my view, is the sort of political erotica that might satisfy a person but hardly leads to a positive result," Putin responded.
"The best example of that are the events in Iraq -- a small country that can hardly defend itself and which possesses huge oil reserves. And we see what's going on there. They've learned to shoot there but they are not managing to bring order.
"One can wipe off a political map some tyrannical regime ... but it's absolutely pointless to fight with a people," he said. "Russia, thank God, isn't Iraq. It has enough strength and power to defend itself and its interests, both on its territory and in other parts of the world."
I will stipulate right off the bat that Putin is an ex-KGB goon who is hardly a champion of democracy. But I thought the term "political erotica" was accurate, and...well, hilarious.
The Republicans and their media servants in this country have worked themselves up into a hot, sweaty state of mania over the invasion and occupation of Iraq since 2002 -- and many of them were engaging in elaborate foreplay well before that. There were dozens of supposedly real reasons for attacking the country -- ranging from the stated "weapons of mass destruction" reason, to the after-the-fact justifications about Saddam Hussein's cruelty.
But underlying it all was something more primal for the Repugs: the desire to DOIT because they could. Because they think that Arabs, in general, are sub-human, and can be bombed with impunity. And that when Arabs have something we want, then, goddamnit, we TAKE it. Rightwingers all over the country get sexually aroused by that notion, and that's why they're so reluctant to give it up even now that the cold shower of reality has interrupted their masturbation fodder. It's also why they insist that anyone who thought the invasion and occupation of Iraq was a bad idea is, de facto, gay. They can't imagine someone not getting off on their war porn /rape fantasies.
As for the War Porn Masturbator-in-Chief, he may still treasure his Iraq erotica, but he probably won't be claiming knowledge of Putin's soul again anytime soon. Bush's imagination doesn't acknowledge that there are leaders who are smarter, more savvy, and more experienced than himself -- leaders who can play him like a violin when they want, and throw him overboard just as quickly. Ex-KGB thug Putin is not impressed by the spoiled preppy Bush's cowboy act, and sees the phony pose for what it is.
As my uncle used to say, "You can't bullshit a bullshitter." Putin has stared down far more threatening bastards than Bush, and he's now called his bluff. Apparently Putin doesn't see much of a downside to joining the rest of the world in their open contempt for the Bush administration, and the weakened America the Bushies have given us just to satisfy their erotic fantasies.
Too bad Republicans don't enjoy actual sex, except when it's suppressed, disgusting or illegal. We might have been spared a war.
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