Putin’s Censored Press Conference: The meeting you weren’t supposed to see

Putin’s Censored Press Conference: The meeting you weren’t supposed to see : "On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave an hour and a half-long press conference which was attended by many members of the world media. The contents of that meeting---in which Putin answered all questions concerning nuclear proliferation, human rights, Kosovo, democracy and the present confrontation with the United States over missile defense in Europe---have been completely censored by the press. Apart from one brief excerpt which appeared in a Washington Post editorial, (and which was used to criticize Putin) the press conference has been scrubbed from the public record. It never happened."

Perhaps it was not intentional censorship. After all, what is happening with Paris Hilton and all the other celebs is so much more important than discussing a possible arms race, nuclear weapons, and the imperialism of the United States.

Bush: Russians have derailed reforms - Yahoo! News

Bush: Russians have derailed reforms - Yahoo! News: "'In Russia, reforms that once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications for democratic development,' Bush said, speaking at a conference of current and former dissidents."

Ok, Mr Bush, how arrogant of you to say this, when you are doing the same for your own country. Examples: warrantless wiretapping, limiting free speech (free speech zones, journalist arrests, surveillance of peaceful activists), virtual elimination of habeas corpus, revision of "enemy combatants" to possibly include Americans, elimination of the Posse Commitus act, warrantless searches, torture of "enemy combatants," dictator-like powers in the case of a national emergency, and the list goes on.

globeandmail.com: Putin threatens to target Europe

globeandmail.com: Putin threatens to target Europe: "MOSCOW — In a threat not uttered since the Cold War, Vladimir Putin said that Russia intends to aim its missile systems - potentially nuclear weapons - at targets in Europe in retaliation for the U.S. decision to establish antimissile bases there.

During a lengthy dinner, Russia's President defended his semi-authoritarian style and insisted he is the world's only true democrat. In an interview with The Globe and Mail and a small circle of other journalists, he stressed that his country is not moving away from a market economy, refused to consider extraditing a former KGB agent charged with poisoning a dissident in London, and lashed out repeatedly at the United States and NATO for operating in countries previously within Russia's sphere of influence."

Here we go again. Bush has transformed Russia from a friend to an enemy because he is meddling in places he should not. I believe the question now is not if we get hit by a nuclear device from a country we are angering, but when.