Russia was asked to fight US forces in Afghanistan: Putin

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1520&ncid=1520&e=15&u=/afp/20030927/pl_afp/us_russia_afghanistan_030927183640

CAMP DAVID, United States (AFP) - Russia was asked in late 2001 to send forces to fight the United States in Afghanistan (news - web sites) -- a request quickly rejected, Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites) said.


"I have never said this in public -- I'm going to do it today," Putin said at a joint press conference here with US President George W. Bush (news - web sites).


"When counterterrorist operations began in Afghanistan, we were approached by people through several channels. We were approached by people who intended to fight against Americans in Afghanistan."
Putin gave no hint at who these people were, or why he held this information until now.


If, by that time, "President Bush and I had not formed an appropriate relationship, as we have, no one knows what turn would the developments in Afghanistan have taken," he said.
<snip>

Wow.

[Sliverofhope]

1. Gee, who would be an important detail

Interesting twist.

[Nottingham]

2. Baaawaaahaa! Russia fought there already! and

got the Hell out of there! :bounce:

[Minstrel Boy]

3. Am I mistaken to read this as a veiled threat?

Laying that ominous bit of news out there now seems a subtle way of saying Don't presume our allegiance. Particularly, I'd say, with respect to Iran.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. "Pooty-poot" is going to assure that he is not mistaken as a lap dog.

I think it is a veild threat.
<snip>
If, by that time, "President Bush and I had not formed an appropriate relationship, as we have, no one knows what turn would the developments in Afghanistan have taken," he said.
<snip>

Well, maybe not THAT veiled.


Why wasn't this reported by US media?

[madrchsod]

5. putin playing

to the military back home.russia wants to be a player esp. in the middle east...

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

6. Don't sell him slight. They are still a rather large sleeping bear.

[Gloria]

7. PUTIN’S SINISTER AFGHAN ANECDOTE--from the new WMW

2//The Moscow Times Monday, Sep. 29, 2003. Page 10

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2003/09/29/007.html



OPINION: MOSCOW ON THE POTOMAC

PUTIN’S SINISTER AFGHAN ANECDOTE

By Matt Bivens

Matt Bivens, a former editor of The Moscow Times, writes for The Nation magazine.



(SNIP)

"I have never said this in public ," Putin said. "When counterterrorist operation began in Afghanistan, we were approached by people, through several channels, we were approached by people who intended to fight against Americans in Afghanistan. And if by that time President Bush and I had not formed an appropriate relationship, as we have, so no one knows what turn the developments in Afghanistan would have taken."



Wow. So, when U.S. forces moved into Afghanistan, Putin says "we" were "approached" by "people" eager to start killing Americans.



Who are these "people"?



Did these would-be American-killers "approach" Putin for his permission, his blessing? Or was their "approach" an invitation to Putin to join them? The account is menacingly vague, so let's brainstorm a bit.



(SNIP)



Whatever this was, it was not a good thing. Nor is it good that the Russian president would trot out such an ominous anecdote. It almost works as a mafia-style threat: Deal with me -- some of my partners are real gorillas, and I can only hold them back so long.



(SNIP)



Consider again the threat lurking in Putin's story.



So, what happens if some day, when it matters, Putin's not around anymore and his gorilla-partners take over? As long as we're all pals now, wouldn't this be the moment to junk about 29,000 nukes? (Dear reader: Please return now to the second paragraph, which begins "Where do some questions come from?", and continue reading.)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

8. That really puts the comment firmly in the "holy shit" category.

A lot of food for thought there. Thanks for posting and to others, if you didn't read the above link, you should.

[bemildred]

9. He's just telling Shrub not to push his luck.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

10. In an unusually public fashion. The intentional vaguaries speak volumes.

[bemildred]

11. You may be sure it was in public on purpose.

One supposes Mr. Putin figures that its payback time,
Mr. Bush has maneuvered himself into a singularly weak
position, and has also done a superb job of pissing
people off. I expect Mr. Putin has a long laundry list of
issues he has been waiting to address.

I wonder if he has any "leverage" in addition to what we
know already?

We need to get Shrub out of the way real soon now or he's
likely to give away the family jewels trying to save his ass.
And Pooty-Poot will be standing there just out of reach the
whole time, "just a bit more, you have to reach a bit farther ..."
:evilgrin:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

12. If I remeber correctly, Puntin is ex KGB...

I have the feeling that he is playing something very close to the vest and Dimwit probably doesn't even know (or knew before this) that he's being played.

The "Mayberry Machiavellis" are out of their game.

[bemildred]

13. Yeh, he's a spook.