Bush Letter to Baltics Upsets Russians on Eve of His Trip to Moscow

[caligirl]

The guy with the silver spoon up his nose did it again!

"Russian officials, who were already upset that Mr. Bush chose to bookend his trip to Moscow on Sunday and Monday with visits to the former Soviet republics of Latvia and Georgia, angrily responded that Mr. Bush was rewriting history.

"It's a distortion of facts, it's a complete distortion of the historic picture," said a senior official at the Russian Embassy in Washington who asked not be identified because he did not have authorization from Moscow.

Moscow's position has been that the Baltics were allies.

The White House said Mr. Bush's letter was in accordance with history. "The letter speaks for itself," said Frederick Jones, the spokesman for the National Security Council."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/05/politics/05prexy.html

I dont know who is right here, just that * is no diplomat.

[Cha]

1. bush and his crime family rewrite

history here and all over the world why should the Baltics be any different?

[UpInArms]

2. looks like *Co screwed the Poot on that one

WASHINGTON, May 4 - On the eve of President Bush's trip to Moscow to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat, another skirmish broke out Wednesday between the United States and Russia over a letter Mr. Bush sent to the presidents of the Baltics calling the end of World War II the beginning of the unlawful Soviet annexation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

[TheFarseer]

3. That is true

but some things are better left unsaid, especially when you're going to meet with them very soon.

[aneerkoinos]

4. What is true?

Stalin took over the three Baltic states after the Molotov-Ribbentrop agreement in 1939, before WWII really started. Tried the same with Finland, but got only Karelia.

Whoever wrote that letter knows not history.

[Hardrada]

6. Finland should get Karelia back.

I'm not sure if Germany should get Konigsberg back though they have offered to purchase it (USSR left it in shambles).

[aneerkoinos]

9. I wouldn't mind

Problem is, most Finns woulnd't like getting alse the few hundred thousand Russians living there now.

[TheFarseer]

14. Hold on, what are we talking about?

We're debating whether the Baltic states were illegally anexed or if it was merely a defensive alliance that both sides wanted right? Sure there was an agreement but were the Baltics consulted for that agreement? The idea that it was only a defensive alliance and not an illegal anexation is absurd.

[aneerkoinos]

15. My point

Stalin, for all practical purposes, occupied and annexed the three countries in 39, not 45 like US ignoramuses now claim. In 39 the choise was either to be occupied "peacefully" or violently, and Baltic states, unlike Finland, saw little point in futile military resistance.

[TheFarseer]

16. Oh, I see, we were debating the DATE. yeah 39 definitely n/t

[HuckleB]

18. LOL!

Yeah, that makes it all better, and, clearly, the date is all the Russians are interested in "clearing up." Of course, that "original" occupation only lasted a year, technically from June 1940 through June 1941 (when 50,000 people were executed and imprisoned during this "peacefu" annexation), until the Germans invaded, with the Soviets "re-annexing" the Baltics in late 1944 and 1945,

:D

:hi:

[ibid]

5. What nation joined the political alliance USSR in a"legal" manner per Bush

The fact of a Russian control/dictatorship is up against the meaning of "legal" control.

I guess economic slavery via unfair - but forced by power - trade agreements and corporate demanded concessions - is legal.

I was part of 2 to 4 week exchanges with Baltic families back in the 80's, and I know how much they wanted Russia out of their politics, but in the 50's, 60's, and 70's a lot of people wanted the US out of their politics.

I guess it all depends on the meaning of the word legal.

[noonwitch]

7. The USSR did annex those countries, among others

Like the entire eastern bloc, except Yugoslavia, which was not part of the Warsaw Pact, even though it was a communist country.

[Zynx]

17. The WarPac was not *technically* annexed to the USSR

At least on papar.

In practice, they had as much independence as the SSR's, but they were never SSR's themselves.

[cliss]

8. That's our Bush!

Charming, suave, brings the best out in people, wherever he goes.

**I loved the story of when Bush went to France (I think it was 6 months ago).

Bush was having dinner with Jacques Chirac. Even though Chirac speaks english, the article said the French leader spoke French during the whole dinner. I laughed:smoke:

[napi21]

10. Well, Putin seems to have adopted "politically Correct" language too!

Distortion of the facts simply stated is "HE LIED"!

TS that other Governments seem to have adopted the politically correct speak too!

[Megahurtz]

11. Good Job Dude!

I don't think Bushitler was trying to rewrite history, I think he's just plain stupid.:dunce:

[Fire Walk With Me]

12. Bush has too much power- Putin

Quotes we'd like to see

[susu369]

13. Ms. Bumiller fails to mention Ms. Russian Genius Condi Rice's input

(what does the diplomat Ms. Rice do to stay productive anyway?)

[Debau2005]

19. *sigh*

You know?! WHO CARES? This country is in such a state of chaos and disrepair, that I am to tired to be outraged by * making yet ANOTHER stupid statement about another country. I sometimes hope this is just a bad dream, I'll wake up, my deployed soldier will be snoring beside me and the news will not be filled with death and destruction.

Although I do have to wonder what he and condasleazy are thinking? Why bad mouth someone's homeland before you go or while you are there? Do you expect them to greet you with open arms and warm fuzzy thoughts after you slammed them?
:spank:

[HuckleB]

20. Bush brings up the Baltics, Putin brings up Dresden.

Can you say "ridiculously obvious diversion plan?" I mean, they can't bring up Grozny and Fallujah, can they? It's much safer to slap each other over what their predecessors did.

[0007]

21. junior & Putin are both good at jacking off their jaws

[emad]

22. Kremlin fury at US demand over Baltic wartime pact

By Julius Strauss in Moscow and Alec Russell in Washington
(Filed: 06/05/2005)

A White House demand that Russia face up to its Stalinist past is fuelling a diplomatic spat ahead of President George W Bush's visit this weekend to commemorate the end of the Second World War.

President Bush will be attending the parade in Red Square on Monday
Mr Bush's four-day visit to Russia and two of its former Soviet satellites is shaping up to be one of the most fraught missions of his presidency.

It emerged in Washington that the US had tried to persuade President Vladimir Putin to repudiate the 1939 Nazi-Soviet agreement, which led to the annexation of the three Baltic States.

This demand - curtly rejected by the Kremlin - added fuel to a row which has pitted Russia against the Baltic states and the European Union and threatens to cast a shadow over the 60th anniversary of the end of the war.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;sessionid=OI0QVCCPNMR45QFIQMGCM54AVCBQUJVC?xml=/news/2005/05/06/wbalt06.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/05/06/ixworld.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=58848

THIS pact is the least of their worries.......

[HuckleB]

23. Dupe.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1447320&mesg_id=1447320

[emad]

24. Thanks , didn't see that one...

[HuckleB]

25. No problem.

I always feel odd doing that, but...

Salud!

[demo dutch]

27. Baltic appealed to US Congress in letter for Bush to remind Russia of

occupation
http://www.baltictimes.com/hot1.php?art_id=12590

[demo dutch]

26. Perfect timing -- the exclusive interview with Putin on 60 minutes Sunday

in which it looks like Putin is highly critical of Bush

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1449918