Vladimir Explains Iraq to George

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?idr=527&id=609874

<snip>Interfax correspondent Alexey Meshkov asked Bush why he mentioned Afghanistan, Iran, Georgia, Ukraine and Iraq together. Isn't it because the political situations are similar in all those countries?

Bush answered in a defiant tone that he didn't understand what Meshkov meant. Meshkov, of course, was waiting for that. He seized the president in a death grip, and he always does when he encounters an American president. He repeated his question in English. Let him try to say he doesn't understand now.

Bush said that the situations in those countries were somehow different, but there were general principles in all of them.

“They've got minority rights and rule of law…” He elaborated. “And so they're at different stages. I mean, clearly, Iraq is a struggling democracy. But one thing is for certain: The people have made their mind about what they want... And they have got a constitution that's been written. It wasn't written under bayonet or under the barrel of a gun. It was written by people,… society.”

Iraq doesn't have a constitution. There are supposed to be a vote on it. Maybe Bush mixed up the constitutional referendum with the presidential election there. Putin decided to answer that question as well. I think he wanted to correct the American president a little.

“We are facing constant violence, and that relates to known factors having to do with the upcoming referendum on the constitution there. I believe that if it will be possible to get a constitution, this will be a good, strong step forward.”