Moscow Says 'Weak People' Won't Derail U.S. Ties

[Rose Siding]

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and the United States will focus on common threats at their summit this week, and their relations will not be derailed by complaints of "weak people," a Kremlin aide said Wednesday.

The summit agenda given by aide Sergei Prikhodko seemed to exclude Russian issues raised by President Bush in a speech this week, where he voiced concerns over the media, the rule of law and democracy.

"In a responsible approach, which is dictated by... state interests, there is no place for weak people, who are ready to overstress external problems, obstacles and differences," Prikhodko was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying.

"Our goal is to make this regular dialogue so intensive, open, sincere and pragmatic that we can speak about anything without worrying that something could negatively affect the general character of our strategic cooperation."
...
"It is very important that there should not be some kind of cross-examination and that we should not say something they are not expecting and that we do not hear anything unexpected."

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7712972&src=rss/ElectionCoverage

[SpiralHawk]

1. Is he implying that the Chimp is weak?

Sure sounds that way.

i guess the Ruskies have not talk this over with "Jeff Gannon"

[Rose Siding]

3. That's how I read it- as a jab at bush's critical remarks

I think the Kremlin just called jr a girlie man

[ElectroPrincess]

7. Naw, us *girlies* can be tough. He's a WIMP.

[bahrbearian]

2. Hypocrite

"Our goal is to make this regular dialogue so intensive, open, sincere and pragmatic that we can speak about anything without worrying that something could negatively affect the general character of our strategic cooperation." AFTER HE SAYS

"In a responsible approach, which is dictated by... state interests, there is no place for weak people, who are ready to overstress external problems, obstacles and differences," Prikhodko

[aneerkoinos]

5. In other words:

"Let's cut the crap (save your girlie man propaganda garbage for domestic use, nobody else buys it), and talk business. So what can you do for us if we continue selling oil for dollars, can you up Schröder's offer (no, I'm not telling! ;))? And BTW stay the fuck out of Iran!"

[seasat]

4. And Pootie-Poo supported Shrub Inc during the election.

China and Russia leaned towards Shrub Inc since they knew that a Democratic President would challenge them on human rights issues and their roll backs of democracy. They know that Shrub Inc is simply rhetoric with no backing when it comes to criticism.

[TahitiNut]

6. That's for internal Russian consumption, methinks.

The Russian electorate has a "strong man" propensity. Culturally, they're even more "macho"-oriented than the stereotypical Latino culture. I'd say this is electioneering by Putin.

[frankieT]

8. nothing to do with "macho" attitude

Russians have a history of liking strong men holding the power, because of it's history made of external threats/aggressions and heavy internal tensions (frequent civil wars and a political spectrum ranging from anarchism to fascism).
It's more "paternalism" than "machismo", and BTW Russian women have move freedoms than many counterparts in Western democracies.