Is Vladimir Putin one of us?
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 1:55 pm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 147422.ece
From timesonline:
Charles Bremner in Paris
Nicolas Sarkozy saved the President of Georgia from being hanged by the balls a threat made last summer by Vladimir Putin, according to an account that emerged yesterday from the Élysée Palace.
The Russian Prime Minister had revealed his plans for disposing of Mr Saakashvili when Mr Sarkozy was in Moscow in August to broker a ceasefire in Georgia.
Jean-David Levitte, Mr Sarkozys chief diplomatic adviser, reported the exchange in a news magazine before an EU-Russia summit today. The meeting will be chaired by the French leader and President Medvedev.
With Russian tanks only 30 miles from Tbilisi on August 12, Mr Sarkozy told Mr Putin that the world would not accept the overthrow of Georgias Government. According to Mr Levitte, the Russian seemed unconcerned by international reaction. I am going to hang Saakashvili by the balls, Mr Putin declared.
Mr Sarkozy thought he had misheard. Hang him? he asked. Why not? Mr Putin replied. The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein.
Mr Sarkozy, using the familiar tu, tried to reason with him: Yes but do you want to end up like [President] Bush? Mr Putin was briefly lost for words, then said: Ah you have scored a point there.
Hanging by the balls has been discussed on this board and, from memory, the topic was of considerable interest to some of us here. Now we learn that Mr. Putin is into it. How interesting. He's not such a bad guy after all. There is hope for Russo Western relations yet.
Kortpeel
From timesonline:
Charles Bremner in Paris
Nicolas Sarkozy saved the President of Georgia from being hanged by the balls a threat made last summer by Vladimir Putin, according to an account that emerged yesterday from the Élysée Palace.
The Russian Prime Minister had revealed his plans for disposing of Mr Saakashvili when Mr Sarkozy was in Moscow in August to broker a ceasefire in Georgia.
Jean-David Levitte, Mr Sarkozys chief diplomatic adviser, reported the exchange in a news magazine before an EU-Russia summit today. The meeting will be chaired by the French leader and President Medvedev.
With Russian tanks only 30 miles from Tbilisi on August 12, Mr Sarkozy told Mr Putin that the world would not accept the overthrow of Georgias Government. According to Mr Levitte, the Russian seemed unconcerned by international reaction. I am going to hang Saakashvili by the balls, Mr Putin declared.
Mr Sarkozy thought he had misheard. Hang him? he asked. Why not? Mr Putin replied. The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein.
Mr Sarkozy, using the familiar tu, tried to reason with him: Yes but do you want to end up like [President] Bush? Mr Putin was briefly lost for words, then said: Ah you have scored a point there.
Hanging by the balls has been discussed on this board and, from memory, the topic was of considerable interest to some of us here. Now we learn that Mr. Putin is into it. How interesting. He's not such a bad guy after all. There is hope for Russo Western relations yet.
Kortpeel