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

[uheardme]

Nik better watch it! Or he'll end up like that former russian journalist in London last year.

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

I'm pretty sure most world leaders keep a geiger counter in their pocket now. No worries.

[spinns17]

its funny ,that the world knows we got stuck with a loser.but nearly half of this country didnt lol.

[johnmcclane]

what about sarkozy's comment that obama is an empty suit and clueless on foriegn issues? now that's funny.

[Elliott32]

Haha...Sarkozy slammed that smear. Every news outlet but Fox News know that smear isn't true. Sarkozy admires Obama. That was evident when Obama met him in France on his global goodwill tour.

America is Barack!

[Elliott32]

Hey Sarkozy, touché! LOL

[brooklyncitizen]

The Bus Jr. years are thus far the darkest years in American history....and it was all self-created and chosen by the AMerican people.

[flifishun]

Its official: George Bush is punch line in foreign leader's jokes.

George Bush surprised world leaders with a joke about his poor record on the environment as he left the G8 summit in Japan.
The American leader, who has been condemned throughout his presidency for failing to tackle climate change, ended a private meeting with the words: "Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter."
He then punched the air while grinning widely, as the rest of those present including Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy looked on in shock.

I feel like the guy in "Slapshot" who laments having to play with the Hanson brothers.
"What a freakin embarrassment"

[MajorKong]

Sigh. You can take the boy out of the frat but you can't take the frat out of the boy.

[Ohg]

The virtues of a warrior class are self evident in some of our world leaders. ...................

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/11/14/life-or-death-warrior-virtues/

[Jahmekyah]

The American image around the world. It says something when Vladimir Putin doesn't want to be compared to you...WOW

[fishgirl26]

Boy, it used to be ...you don't want to end up like Hitler or Stalin do you? Now it's Bush?? How far we have fallen. Mr. Obama will hopefully lift us up.

[aubrey8]

There you go, a perfect example of how world leaders will justify their decisions to invade other countries.

George Bush invaded other countries without being provoked, then we can to. and you on about why smaller countries are building nukes so they can defend themselves from the same kind of American aggression.

What people refuse to see is this is exactly what conservative Republicans want. They want war without end. it's about money and it's about power. it's greed, that's what they stand for.

[brooklyncitizen]

The new global economy is based on instability and war.In previous eras peacetime and stability was more "profitable" at home and abroad.The new economy is fueled by corporatists who need war to profit and many new industries have risen as a result of this shift, for example Blackwater.

[jolebo]

Could it be that, that is what is wrong with this world?

[rowzeer]

Not new at all....Gen. Smedley Butler was warning about this before WWII

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

except the Russians WERE provoked! so, it's not excusable by Republican logic!

[JennyJay]

Finally - at last - President Bush has been good for the world, at least in one way.
History will use his name as a reminder to leaders - how not to govern a country.
Just mention his name, and people will start rethinking their actions.
That is . . . if they don'' hurl their lunch first.

[jp5472]

Further proof that around the world, Bush is a complete joke. And 46% of the country wanted to continue on that path?

[Dystopic]

I am willing to bet that 46% of the population has never been outside the US or outside their home state.

[jp5472]

Sadly, you have a point.

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

46% of Middle America has no interest in even visiting New York, or California. The only reason they even go to Florida is because that's where Disney World is.

[jfoxx]

Bush will become the cautionary tale told to all children of the world. "Eat your vegetables or you will end up like Bush!"

[Hillblogger]

H ahahhah! Right on!

[brooklyncitizen]

He'll be the Big Bad Wolf -Grinch that stole Christmas all rolled up into one.Kids will dress up like Bush for Halloween if they don't do so already.

[yappnmutt]

nothing worse than someone patting his own behind. great line sarkozy but have you thought about how you would look hanging in that manner. putin is no one to mess with and he is a brilliant tactician and strategist.

[Hillblogger]

Putin is no one to mess with and all the other blah... So? He caved in just the same -- didn't want to end up like Bush. Sarkozy got him there. End of story.

[yappnmutt]

putin got what he wanted and the image he conveyed was rhetorical. the point of the release was for sarkozy to distance himself from bush and pat himself on the behind. now putin understands his vanity and will use it against him.

lest you forget putin won the georgia war and got what HE wanted.

[leeman79]

"Bush" is to world leaders, as "Munson" was to Kingpin.

[littlepuffycloud]

LOL!!

[vincefango]

Ah yes...the examples we set for the world.