Sarkozy Chides Putin On Russian Tough Talk: "You Want To End Up Like Bush?"

Nicolas Sarkozy saved the President of Georgia from being hanged "by the balls" -- a threat made last summer by Vladimir Putin, according to an account that emerged yesterday from the Elysee Palace.

The Russian Prime Minister had revealed his plans for disposing of Mr Saakashvili when Mr Sarkozy was in Moscow in August to broker a ceasefire in Georgia.

Jean-David Levitte, Mr Sarkozy's chief diplomatic adviser, reported the exchange in a news magazine before an EU-Russia summit today. The meeting will be chaired by the French leader and President Medvedev.

With Russian tanks only 30 miles from Tbilisi on August 12, Mr Sarkozy told Mr Putin that the world would not accept the overthrow of Georgia's Government. According to Mr Levitte, the Russian seemed unconcerned by international reaction. "I am going to hang Saakashvili by the balls," Mr Putin declared.

Mr Sarkozy thought he had misheard. "Hang him?" -- he asked. "Why not?" Mr Putin replied. "The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein."

Mr Sarkozy, using the familiar tu, tried to reason with him: "Yes but do you want to end up like [President] Bush?" Mr Putin was briefly lost for words, then said: "Ah -- you have scored a point there."

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Comments

[AtheistUS]

This is so true. Putin of course knows that Bush and his cronies remind very much communistic leadership of former USSR.

That is why Putin and Medvedev are not so happy about Obama. They will not be able anymore point to other side of the ocean and say "they are not any better".

[thegreatgiginthesky]

I guess GWB put the Clinton jokes to rest

[Mister X]

Hah-hah, burn! Take that Ameri--- Oh. That's right. Bush is the leader of the country that I live in. Sigh.

[GingerPresently]

lol

[BannedInBoston]

Mr Sarkozy thought he had misheard. "Hang him?" -- he asked. "Why not?" Mr Putin replied. "The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein."

Er, but Vlad, not by the B.ALLS....

[WasteNJ]

If he was only hung by the balls, he'd be alive today...

[karlo5]

Too much, how fitting. Now if I can only figure out why the tards in this country voted for this fool......­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­........tw­ice.

[white mende man]

It's good to know the Bush will be the butt of foreign and domestic political joke.

[AtTheMoon]

The whole world knows Dubya is a punchline...a freaking joke! The nightmare will be over soon.

[gloriousbeing]

Do you think the world knows that many of us did NOT vote for Bush? Not only once, but twice??? I fear that WE, the American People are as much of a joke to the world as Bush....I certainly hope not, but can't help thinking that we are in many countries around the world.

[suziq]

Between Sarkozy's comment and bu$h finding out there isn't much of a market for his memoirs - I am SO happy to see karma in action!!!!!!!

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

DEMONS CAN TELL JOKES 2?

[jdl51]

Apparently they both agree that Bush is the lowest life form on the plant.

[tydicea]

I suspect at this point the mere mention of ending up like Bush is enough to make even the most hardened criminal have second thoughts.

[OregonMaggie]

Putin is a dangerous, ego-maniacal blowhard. I hope our new POTUS gets tough with him.

[white mende man]

it's all about love man, peace and love... 'nuff of the blow hard war is the answer to everything.

[wrylass]

He did indeed score a point ... I wonder how long world leaders will continue to reference Bush in exactly this way ... a cautionary tale.

[Jason404]

Seems like Putin can speak French

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

Mais, bien sur. French is the language of diplomacy and no self-respecting former Russian agent should be without the language in his skillset.

He also speaks German (fluently) and English.

[Bitsko]

French is the second language of the upper classes in Russia. In pre-revoutionary times, French and English were used much more often by them than Russian.

[netzwerg]

he speaks russian, english, french and german fluently. there are videos on youtube where you can see him speak different languages.

[KoolBreez]

He is ex KGB

[netzwerg]

KGB (Komitet Gossudarstwennoy Besopasnosti), literally translated, means "Commitee for Homeland Security".

[RJ1008]

for once Bush name averted a war then. That's a surprise. Bush can claim credit for it. :)