Cheney rebukes Russia on democracy

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, in one of the Bush administration's sharpest rebukes to Moscow, accused Russia on Thursday of backsliding on democracy and urged it to stop using energy supplies for "blackmail". "Russia has a choice to make," Cheney told Baltic and Black Sea leaders at a summit in Vilnius, calling on Moscow to return to democratic reform at a time of increasingly chilly relations between the United States and Russia.

He said opponents of reform in Russia were "seeking to reverse the gains of the last decade" by restricting democratic rights and warned President Vladimir Putin some of Moscow's actions could hurt relations with other countries. But Cheney told leaders of post-communist nations with a history of domination by the former Soviet Union: "None of us believes that Russia is fated to become an enemy."

He said G-8 members planned to make clear at a summit in St. Petersburg in July Moscow had "nothing to fear and everything to gain from strong stable democracies on its borders". Cheney's harsh remarks could further antagonise Russia, which holds a veto in the U.N. Security Council where Washington intends to push for a resolution demanding Iran curb its nuclear ambitions. Russia opposes any sanctions.

The address by Cheney, a powerful, independent-minded vice president known for a hard line on Russia within the administration, marked an intensification of U.S. and European Union criticism against Moscow for its record on democracy. Cheney also levelled a strong attack on the government in Belarus, calling for the immediate release of opposition leader Aleksander Milinkevich as well as other opposition members.

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Cheney_rebukes_Russia_on_democracy.html?siteSect=143&sid=6683658&cKey=1146733830000

:eyes:

Dick 'Go F*** Yerself' Cheney talkin' about democracy.

That creep wouldn't know a democracy if it bit him on the ass. :grr:

how dare we lecture anyone on democracy

the sooner the better!

Do you suppose he really thinks he knows something about DEMOCRACY? Besides how to destroy it?

Democracy is a personal discipline upon yourself to avoid any abuse of power to harm others. Democracy makes you a better person, by your abiding by its principles. It is internal control, not external.

Bush-Cheney diplomacy in action.

I put up with that lame-ass Junior last year and even let him drive my 1956 Volga in little circles. Why is Dickie mad at me?

cheney is accusing RUSSIA of using energy supplies for blackmail? and 'russia has a choice to make' ? what crap is that? threatening other nations seems to be about all this administration is capable of anymore. i'd compare it to a schoolyard bully whose 'friends' have abandoned him, lashing out randomnly at anyone who comes near.

Cheney accuses Putin of restricting rights

04/05/2006 - 15:16:27

Speaking in Vilnius, Lithuania, US Vice President Dick Cheney today caused a stir in neighbouring Russia.

He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of restricting the rights of citizens and said that “no legitimate interest is served” by turning energy resources into implements of blackmail.

“In Russia today, opponents of reform are seeking to reverse the gains of the last decade,” Cheney told a conference of Eastern European leaders.

According to the Interfax news agency, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said: “Cheney’s speech looks like a provocation and interference in Russia’s internal affairs.”
(snip/...)

http://www.eecho.ie/news/bstory.asp?j=149165560&p=y49y66y4x&n=149166169

:banghead:

as implements for all kinds of devious and dastardly political activities.

couldn't help but shake my head at the obvious irony when he talked about the Russian government using energy prices and withholding supply as a means to control the Russian people and how wrong they are for doing it.

I mean, come on, Dick. :eyes:

Looks to me like an effort to open old wounds, certainly nothing to move comfortably into the 21st Century.

What will be next, unkind words about Cuba?

MAybe tell him that he has a good... Heart.

Cheney accused Putin of restricting the rights of citizens? Was this before or after the wiretaps? Oh wait, that was here. Ok, was this before or after the spying on peace groups? oh wait, here again. Oh wait, Putin arrested the vegans protesting the ham store in Georgia...oh, no, wait, here again!

WTF does he have accusing anyone of restricting rights!