The NYTs interviews President Putin. I love listening to other world leaders - they're always so detailed, so complex in their thinking. Does Bush ever do interviews for Pravda? (Check out the cafepress babydoll t-shirts!)
Putin stayed in our hotel in Warsaw when I was there. They put metal detectors at the doors and there were always Russian guards in the lobby (they complimented my stylish hat).
One evening a uniformed man told us we could remain in the lobby, but to stay back and not take pictures, as Putin was coming through. We thought he was coming in the door, not out, but all of a sudden, a clump of dark-coated men came from the elevators and a small, tense, serious man with close red hair was in their center. I was the only one that even noticed him go out. Oddly, his lack of stature or presence made me more a fan rather than less.
We were musing about how world leaders feel talking to our prez - I mean, Vladimir Putin was deeply "special services" - as a former KGB spy, you know his life has been full of brutal and extraordinarily character-forming (*cough*) experiences. Organized crime, Chechyn civil war, new world order - and he has managed to last four years as PM, not just survive. Imagine his thoughts as he parleys with the US...
I like untranslated aphorisms. What the heck does foam removers mean? From the article (special services seems to mean intel folks):
"It is a complete nightmare, which has nothing to do with realistic tasks of struggle against terrorism. It is done just for people working at the special services. Since the time when I myself worked at the special services, they were called the 'foam removers.' They just sit and remove the foam. They are still there doing this. "
I'm wondering if it is tied to "skimming the surface" or something? Wild.
Okay, okay, one more quote. Gosh, I just love it when nationstate leaders not only speak specifically at length topics, not only answer unplanned questions, but when asked questions, CLARIFY them to make sure they are answering the right one. *sigh*
"Mr. Putin: ...We have to unite efforts to do everything to neutralize these possible threats.
Q.: Now you have come to the heart of the matter. How specifically do we proceed in Iraq to neutralize that threat?
Mr. Putin: These specific threats or in general how to proceed in Iraq?
Q.: These specific threats or what we need to do in Iraq as a whole. And is Russia ready to help? And is Russia ready to send its troops if the U.N. sanctions it?
Mr. Putin: We think that Iraq's problems can be efficiently solved only with involvement of the Iraqi people themselves..."
