Putin: Terrorist Aiming to Derail Bush

[CARLHAYDEN]

I've never understood the idea of terrorists plotting an attack to cause Bush to be ousted.  If there was a major terrorist attack a day or two before election day, Bush would probably win in a landslide since the country would go back to being deathly afraid of the terrorists.

Terrorist attacks in Iraq are much more effective than attacks in the US to weaken support for the president.  That may be what the Islamists are thinking, but it's hard to impute rational motives onto those people.

I would, however, expect to see another major attack in the US if Kerry wins.  A Kerry victory would be a huge victory for Islamic terrorism, in my opinion, because he would essentially return to the policies of the Clinton years.

Its really very simple.

The terrorists believe that Americans are like Spainiards.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Putin: Terrorist Aiming to Derail Bush

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that terrorists are aiming to derail President Bush's chances at re-election through their attacks in Iraq.

Putin noted that his government continued to disagree with Bush on Washington's invasion of Iraq, which Russia strongly opposed as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.

``I consider the activities of terrorists in Iraq are not as much aimed at coalition forces but more personally against President Bush,'' Putin said at a news conference after a regional summit in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe.

``International terrorism has as its goal to prevent the election of President Bush to a second term,'' he said. ``If they achieve that goal, then that will give international terrorism a new impulse and extra power.''

Still, Putin didn't say which candidate he favored in the Nov. 2 election. ``We unconditionally respect any choice of the American people,'' he said.

Make no mistake about it, I'm no fan of Putin, but, I think I do understand the basis for his statement.

The simple fact is that the Chechynan terrorists are being trained, funded, and supplied by Al Quida (indeed, non-chechynan islamic terrorist are serving with them in their attacks).

Putin figures (rightly I believe), that Kerry would reduce the pressure on Al Queida, allowing them to regroup, which in turn would allow them to provide more aid to the chechynan terrorists in Russia.

Lets face if, the Russians have had two major attacks by the Chechyans (the Moscow theatre and then the school massacre).  They have good reason to want to want to defeat them.

Putin (I believe) sees the chechyan/al queida bloc much the same way that Stalin saw the Axis.  Also, he sees Bush in much the same light as Stalin saw the US in WW2 (a necessary temporary ally).

[CARLHAYDEN]

A.) I'm not a Republican.

B.) I don't like Putin

c.) The motivations of Putin and Chirac are different, which in turn explains their different (and sometimes) similiar approaches.  Putin wants to be dictator of a greater Russia for life, and well take what approachs he sees as furthering that goal.  Chirac pursues evil policies because he is evil.