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Anatoly Maltsev / EPA
Russian President Vladimir Putin has a cup of coffee in a restaurant during an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Week event in Vladivostok, Russia, Thursday.
MOSCOW -- President Vladimir Putin said in an interview aired Thursday that Russia can work with Mitt Romney if he's elected U.S. president, even though Romney has called Russia the United States' "No. 1 geopolitical foe."
However, Putin also suggested that a Romney presidency would widen the rift over an anti-missile shield the United States is deploying in Europe.
The Russian leader held out hope for an end to the missile defense dispute if Barack Obama is re-elected in November, telling Russia's RT television he was "an honest person who really wants to change much for the better."
Romney has promised "less flexibility and more backbone" in policy on Russia if he wins the Nov. 6 election.
"As for Mr. Romney's position, we understand that it is in part...campaign rhetoric, but I think it is, of course, without a doubt mistaken," Putin said.
"Because to conduct oneself like that in the international arena is the same as using the instruments of nationalism and segregation in the domestic politics of your own country," he added.
Powell to Romney on foreign policy: 'Come on, Mitt, think'
"We'll work with whichever president is elected by the American people. But our effort will be only as efficient as our partners will want it to be," Putin said.
Relations between Moscow and Washington improved after Obama moved to "reset" ties, but have been strained by disputes over issues ranging from global security to human rights.
Tensions between President Barack Obama and Russia President Vladimir Putin are making it more difficult for the two countries to find common ground on issues like Syria and Iran. Former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov discusses.
Putin said Russia would continue to talk with Washington but "protect itself and preserve the strategic balance" if the United States pushed ahead with the anti-missile shield, which Moscow sees as a threat.
Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama agree to continue discussions on Iran, Syria
In some of his most extensive public comments since he started a six-year term in May, Putin also dismissed Western criticism on issues ranging from Syria to the conviction of three anti-government protesters from the punk band Pussy Riot.
Putin was asked whether Moscow should rethink its stance on Syria after vetoing three Western-backed U.N. Security Council resolutions designed to pressure Assad to end violence that has killed 20,000 people.
"Why should only Russia re-evaluate its position?" he said. "Maybe our partners in the negotiation process should re-evaluate their position."
'Dangerous and short-sighted'
Without naming any country, he hinted the United States was looking to militants to help topple Assad and would regret it, drawing a parallel with U.S. support for the mujahideen who fought Soviet forces in Afghanistan during the Cold War.
"Today somebody is using al-Qaida fighters or people from other organizations with the same extreme views to achieve their goals in Syria," Putin said. "This is a very dangerous and short-sighted policy."
Russia's Putin takes to sky to lead flight of cranes
He noted that the United States had imprisoned many alleged Islamic militants at Guantanamo Bay and said it might as well "open the gates to Guantanamo and let all the Guantanamo inmates into Syria, let them fight. It's the same thing."
Russia's President-elect Vladimir Putin won an election that independent observers say was neither free nor fair. Monitors found multiple ballots were cast in a third of polling stations. However they conceded that Mr. Putin would still have won regardless of vote-rigging. ITN's Bill Neely reports.
Putin has signed laws in his new term that critics say are part of a campaign to suppress dissent after the biggest protests of his 12 years in power. Putin said he acted to instill order and that he had taken steps to improve democracy.
"What is 'tightening the screws'?" he said. "If this means the demand that everyone, including representatives of the opposition, obey the law, then yes, this demand will be consistently implemented."
Pussy Riot's name 'indecent'
Putin declined to comment on the sentences handed down to three women from punk band Pussy Riot jailed for two years for performing a raucous anti-Putin song inside a Moscow cathedral.
"I know what is going on with Pussy Riot, but I am staying out of it completely", he told the channel.
Russia prosecutors seek 3 years for punk rockers
But he suggested the band's notoriety had forced its "indecent" name into public discourse, reinforcing the point by prodding his interviewer to translate the word "pussy."
"I want to direct your attention to the moral side of the issue," he added, describing a previous group-sex stunt that included at least one of the convicted women and adding a off-color joke of his own about group sex.
Rock Center special projects producer Tim Uehlinger gives a behind-the-scenes look at producing 'Russian Spring.' The story brought Uehlinger and Rock Center's Harry Smith to Moscow during the dead of winter. The only thing to keep them warm: a Putin-cino.
Putin said abuses committed against the Russian Orthodox Church and other faiths during the Soviet era made the Pussy Riot protest particularly offensive and meant "the state is obliged to protect the feelings of believers."
KGB-style threat? Putin foe charged with theft
Kremlin opponents and defense lawyers accused Putin of influencing last month's trial and sentence, which the United States and European nations branded disproportionate.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Since we now know Obama is a Marxist/Communist since his Occidental College Days (came from interviewing the people who attended the meetings with Comrade Barrack while attending Occidental with him) why would you think Putin would says anything against his Comrade?
The Democrats are just stupid beyond belief!
Of course Putin doesn't want a Repubican president,
he just broke in the Democrat.
Anytime the Kremlin endorses the President
of the United States, you KNOW you got the
WRONG president.
Jerry; You are 100% CORRECT!!!!!!!!!!!! Putin would love for Obama to get another term in order to keep destroying what made America great. Socialism and Communism are Obama's mantra. He is doing his best to destroy Capitalism, which is what made America the greatest country on Earth!
I bet Fidel Castro and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would also say the same thing.......I'm sure Kim Jong II probably loves Obama's leadership style....
Another important endorsement for Obama. Now he just needs Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's and Hugo Chávez's endorsement and his re-election is a shoe-in!
Spoken in my best Russian accent," Yes, yes, Obama says things will be much easier for me when he is reelected"
I guess the two comrades work well together.
The claims that Obama is a socialist or communist whose aim is to bring down the USA are absurd. What FACT BASED evidence do you have? One might just as easily make the claim that Romney and Co are tools for fascists and oligarchs who want to turn the country into a corporation and the rest of us into their unwilling serfs who work for a pittance only to be discarded into the dung heap after we are too old or sick to contribute to their wealth. Which vision is more real?
Lies deceit secrecy unfulfilled broken promises talking on two sides of the mouth and flattery is not my idea of a honest president. Mr.Putin get yourself educated please.
asap!
Thanks for weighing in Mr. Putin. We know we can trust your opinion.
redgirl wake up before your crying out because your liberties are gone look at who obama is playing cards with it is by the company he keeps.Civil unrest is coming redgirl hehe
Correction: Civil unrest is coming IF Obama is re-elected. Get rid of the cancer and you will restore health to the patient.
Jim.G: It seems that it is the Republicans who are interfering in our private lives more than the Dems. Their policies are becoming more and more fringe, and are exluding almost everyone but white males or the very wealthy. Romney has associations that are also questionable. I am not a socialist and believe in free enterprise, but at the same time find a dog-eat-dog world inhumane and unjust. It would be truly awful to find yourself cast aside as slave to the master with no way out or up. Civil unrest probably is coming, but why do you find that amusing?
I am afraid of what one writer called "partisan fever," which is one thing Obama plans to kindle tonight.
That is a dangerous way to govern.
redgirl: You're dealing here with a bunch of old, white, conspiracy theorists who dream up pure BS and then post it as truth. The truth is none has a formal education that is no better than maybe high school back years and years ago. A good many of them see this election as Round 2 of the civil rights struggle of the 60s and 70s, and they're all given to hysterical rants by right wing con artists who sell them the BS they want to hear. That's about the size of it.
This is an endorsement no candidate wants!
But then the American Communist Party also endorsed Obama in 2008 and 2012.
Mario: Wow! The American Communist Party endorsed Obama? The American Nazi Party has endorsed the Romney-Ryan ticket in 2012. Who gives a rip? You must, huh??!!?? Run out and vote for Romney-Ryan!
Mr. Jefferson -
Its just the facts. Don't be afraid of that.
Mario: Are you simple minded enough to think the endorsement of any far left or far right wing political party makes any difference within the political spectrum of the USA? Are you voting for Romney because Putin told you so? Why not post something that at least demonstrates you have enough intelligence to understand American politics?
Drop the insults. It seems to be your only message. Read the C.O.H.
Mr. Jefferson -
On 3 Sept 2012 you wrote on Newsvine, "I will debate intellectually and civilly."
Please begin now.
The claim that the American Nazi Party has endorsed Mr. Romney is a hoax and outright scurrilous lie.
Check it out. I did.
Stinky's (aka BO) "flexibility" will be removed after we fire him in November.
First off, Putin was/is the head of the KGB in Russia - so right up front, you know he is a liar.
But second, remember the hot mike, when Obammy was caught telling Putin that after this election, he could be more "accommodating" - anybody want to bet that even more has been said between those two when the mike and lights were off?
Anybody need any more reason to vote against Obammy - I personally don't want Romney, I think he is a weak willed twit, but anything to get Obama out of office and back where he belongs - hustling people in Chicago.
Actions and Comments say it all .... The President said it in his own words ....... "claiming he could be more flexible after the November general election". Has he made other promises to America and will he change his mind when elected? Listen to the video tape ...... Has he anyone questioned him what he attends to do "after the election what he will do?"
Oh my, an endorsement from Vladimir Putin. I am fairly sure I heard that Hugo Chavez also gave Obama an endorsement. Nuff said. Romney/Ryan 2012.
Putin/KGB & Romney/GOP - birds that flock together with a common enemy,WOMEN!
So why have so many women become homeless and on welfare since Barry took office? Action does not match the word's
Guess ol' Vladimir called Michelle to have tell Barack he is in. Of course obama has also been endorsed by Stalin and Mao (from the grave but we know dead democrats still vote) so I guess that does it for me!
Now there's an endorsement you don't want. Sounds like a bad SNL skit waiting to happen - complete with Putin offering to help Obama win reelection "Russian style".
Translation: Romney is going to be tough and Obama's a fool I can take advantage of.
Bingo! Obama is easily taken advantage of...lack of experience. Not his fault, but it is happening and has happened. Putin is a dicatator and to be given his blessing is NOT a good thing.
Listen to the video tape. What other plans or deals does he have "after" being elected. It seems he has a plan to be elected on "what I'm saying now but I'll change my mind after being elected"
ADDED:
Do a search on the following
Obama's comments were caught on a microphone during what the two leaders believed was a private conversation during a nuclear summit in South Korea
ADDED
Putin sees it, EVERYBODY sees it. Obama's not perfect but I think he's the best we are going to do in a long while.
he is not perfect but then who is. He has done about as good a job as any one could under the circumstances. If he is only a one term president we would have been lucky to have had him at a defining moment...kind of like having Lincoln and FDR when we needed their type most.
Your enemy is the best judge of who should run your country. If the leader of that country likes a candidate, that leader must feel he has an advantage. Enemies love weakness in the opposition. Obama is the team that everybody wants in the season opener. They loved Carter.
A mindless comment at best. I guess with that attitude you think we should all just get along.
I guess next the dems will be thanking Assad for his Obama recommendation?
Wake up America....Putin's endorsement of Obama as being "honest" should raise a red flag. It was in a meeting with Putin that Obama spoke these words, " I will have more flexibility after the election." There was an open mike at the time, as Obama obviously did not intend the statement for anyone other than Putin. The bottom line is these two deceitful, lying parasites are brothers bonded by their socialist / Marxist agendas which produces all-powerful central governments with total control over every aspect of life in the country. Ask any Russian how things are going with Putin.
another mindless comment, hell what hole are they crawling out of ....plug it.