Cyrill Vatomsky, Where All Politics Are Global

You know how is it sometimes you read or watch something and you see something so outrageously funny, you have to tell everybody about it.

 

I was quietly reading the last issue of the Russian Daily Kommersant and stumbled over an account of the latest meeting between a highest level delegation from Israel with Mr. Putin, the current Russian Strongman. The Israeli delegation included even the current Prime Minister Ehud Omert, Russian side boasted the closest coterie of the Strongman himself.

 

First the article goes on describing the most ridiculous diplomatic procedure Putin dragged all into - they all had to introduce themselves; except Mr. Putin. And why would he? He is not some no name prime minister from a teeny-tiny country somewhere in the desert.

 

But then... Mr. Putin went all expressing support for Moshe Katsav, Israeli President facing rape charges. Here is Kommersant quoting Putin: 

Recently he said that those that killed Politkovskaya did more harm to Russia then all of Politkovskaya's writings. This is becoming a pattern. Mr. Putin does not seem to be able to conceal his actual thoughts in public.

 

I have a feeling Mr. Putin is also envious of the linguistic prowess and reputation of G. W. Bush and is after his laurel wreath. Or, most likely, he has transcended to the state of mind when public opinion of what he says and what he thinks is totally irrelevant - exactly what he actually said about Politkovskaya's influence on political situation in Russia.

 

So, is Russian Strongman dumb or arrogant? Well, why not both?

In answer the comment question below. he did not use the Russian word for male horse, although it does exist with similar meaning, but its usage is much less common then stud in English. Verbatim, Putin called him "a very powerful [man]". "Powerful" (as in "this engine is powerful", a pump is powerful - usually used to describe equipment of facility not power as influence and control) in that context squarely means sexual ability and nothing else. He also used a more colloquial word instead of simply "man" I can't think of an equivalent in English right now, but it stresses male attributes. It's a tough call. I might have exaggerated a bit with using "stud", but not by a lot. The meaning is absolutely there.