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

[Internaut]

Sarkozy: "Yes but do you want to end up like Bush?"
Putin: "Ah -- you have scored a point there."

Doesn't this sound like a comedy skit on SNL? (hint hint)

[deeppeace]

I'm not sure W thought his legacy would be so stark. He goes down in history as the bad example.

[4Detroit]

The world will be safe as long as Palin can see Putin from her backyard. So no need to worry Sarkozi. We all feel a little safer since Palin is on the watch.

[timberdoodle]

Just to set the record straight on thoughts from the outside world............Bush is regarded as the biggest Buffoon to ever lead a country and this would be funny except for the fact he is also a war criminal and responsibel for hundreds of thousands of needless deaths.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Putin = Bush?
Ouch.

Not that. Anything but THAT.

[Mybunchofgrapes]

Putin will see a difference in this president than Bush and the bloody hit to the nose I would hit back harder and Putin did...I would ope the United States would do the same when someone bloody our nose...and thank you President of France for showing a level and calm head doing that regrettable situation with Georgia

[Hillblogger]

Agree! Aren't we all glad that Bush didn't get his way during the then Russia-Georgia debacle.

Sarkozy is a pragmatist with a good intelligent head -- he's a lawyer by training and a professional politician by vocation. Sarkozy is not Bush the clueless.

[Hillblogger]

Re Putin's retort: "Why not? The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein."

In January this year, a Russian weekly launched a debate: "TO BE AS CRUEL AS THE AMERICANS OR NOT TO BE..."

According to The First Post (UK), Argumenty I Fakty, the respected weekly newspaper read by 3m Russians, asked last week whether Russia should, in effect, become a 'second America' and attempt to return to its former Soviet greatness by arming itself as though it were still a superpower? If so, this would mean flexing military might at every available opportunity.

Or should Mother Russia accept that she cannot hope to equal or beat America and that perhaps social and commercial development ­ - not brute force - ­ are the solution?

In Argumenty I Fakty, Alexander Dugin, director of Russia's Centre of Geopolitics, argued that Russia must crush her enemies and do whatever is necessary to become a military adversary to America. "Looking at our territory, resources and history, Russia is never going to become a quiet, 'vegetarian' country," he wrote. "Russia must become America's equal. The alternative is simple: either we become our own masters ­ or our fate will be in someone else's hands."

If the US can invade Iraq and get away with it, he added, Russia should not be afraid to protect her own interests ­ as in Georgia, for example. "In order for America not to beat Russia we will need to be as cruel and aggressive as the Americans."

[Yermammy]

For that, we should hold War Crimes against Bush & Cheney. THEY were the aggressors. I don't blame Russia or anyone else in the world to feel that way. This administration is criminal and should be treated as such. Reconciliation and Truth will settle the matter, then we can all work on keeping Mother Nature from destroying us.

[Americano]

I think the Russians are in the right. The Europeans with the US dosing the flames were trying to undermind Russia even though they were in the right. in kicking Georgia's ass! And indirectly giving us (the USA) a swift boot with the same ass kicking! Putin has easily a 3 times higher approval rating and is more liked as leader around the world than our president Bush. I know that is not saying much.

[liberalrebuttal]

I've warmed up to Sarkozi ever since I saw him passionately gushing over NOW President -elect- Obama.

;p

[bellabeach]

Me too, I am beginning to like him!!!

[Yermammy]

French kissing will come back into style :)

[HelloooCanada]

sarkozy really grew on me. he's pro-american and anti-bush administration (without being obvious about it) and he's a pragmatist with a sense of humor. good stuff.

he's the kind of leader that will allow obama to rebuild the bridges to europe, which the entire world will benefit from - most of all us, probably.

nice to have a u.s. president who will agree to meet with the president of spain, now that i think about it....

[Bocado]

Are you sure he's anti-Bush?

He called Obama and "empty suit", better check that out as well.

[JL-PICARD]

He may have had that empty suit attitude when he first became aware of Obama but he could barely contain himself congradulating Obama on his electoral victory.

[HelloooCanada]

yeah, that's true, but i figure that any european leader would be pretty wary of the u.s. president until they see him(/her) in action.

here's a quote quickly found from the l.a. times (july 2008, paul richter):

"In Paris on Friday, President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has gone out of his way to repair French relations with Bush, presented himself as Obama's "buddy" and said France would be "delighted" to see the Democrat elected as the next U.S. president. Sarkozy said the two have "converging" views on issues such as climate change and Iran's nuclear program.

Obama's appearance with Sarkozy contrasted with McCain's low-key visit to Europe and the Middle East in March. There was no joint news conference in Paris; McCain answered journalists' questions in a courtyard without Sarkozy."

[anopenmind]

Sarkozy never called Obama an empty suit - Sarkozy practically endorsed Obama when he went to Europe in July!! The entire World is anti-Bush and anti-Republican! And they're all Pro-Obama!! It's Nice to be Admired by the World Again!

[trackfan]

In the future, "Bush" will be used as a common noun to refer to any world leader that is a total screw-up. What's ironic about this is that Jacques Chirac had a similar conversation with Bush before he invaded Iraq, but unfortunately, he's not as smart as Putin.

[Strywever]

"Bush-league" was derived from baseball, I think, but maybe it'll become more commonly used again for different reasons!

[4Detroit]

All it takes is one comparison to Bush to bring Putin back to his senses.

[HelloooCanada]

what this story didn't write about was the russian advisor standing behind putin saying "too far, snark-ozy.... too far...."

[Cynicon]

Basically Sarkozy is saying that leaders should make decisions based on how it might affect what other people (mostly journalists and elistists) think of them. That is a pretty pathetic view of leadership.

I guess Obama is going to be spending a lot of time on the phone calling leaders around the world (how does he decide who to talk to?) before he makes any decisions. What if he consults with other leaders on withdrawal from Iraq and they say he should give it a couple of more years so that it can become more stable? Should he follow their advice then?

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

No, he meant you don't want to end up ruining your country and socializing businesses to protect their private profits.

[4Detroit]

Have you ever heard that it is not always a good idea to go into something new trying to reinvent the wheel? Don't you think it is better to use a good role model and sound advice when it comes to governing? How people percieve any elected official is important, just like how I percieve you from what you just wrote. Therefore, There is nothing wrong with wanting to have people look at you and the way you operate in a positive way. Just look at Bush he just didn't give a da mn.

[zlohcuc]

Gee, Really...? My interpretation of this remark is more of like "Bush screwed up, everyone knows it and now America and the world are paying a stiff penalty for his stilted thinking and rash behavior" That's leadership..having a considered view of the issues and making decisions that lead to a desired outcome. It's the opposite of "making the move" and dealing with the fallout from questionable decisions.

[thismachinekillsfascists]

Wrong. It's called being pragmatic. Look it up.

[LucusT]

Nice to see Bush is now the standard for what not to do. The Bush legacy: The standard for mediocracy........Way to go!

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

Puts BUSH-league on a whole nother level - an even more pathetic and disgraceful one!

[LucusT]

Everyone knows that Bush Beer is the cheap schwagg.

[stepintothelight]

Not to mention AMBushed!!!

[worldtraveller]

I never read an article before and had to clap my hands at the punchline. Ah Sarkozy... more points from me to you. 9 for your hot wife and 1 for that. You are now perfect!!!

[sparafucilli]

L'etat, C'est Moi.