And what did Bush have to say about this?
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp..._go_pr_wh/bush
Quote:
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Bush declined to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin despite concerns that he has strengthened authoritarian controls and backtracked on post-Soviet democratic reforms. Bush said he has a good personal relationship with Putin and "I intend to keep it that way." The United States and Russia have disagreements, the president added, but he said the relationship is good.
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He could at least admit there was a problem and try to use his access to gently nudge for reform without being overbearing if democracy is truly one of his foreign policy goals. (You know, given all the Iraq rhetoric and such.) Right now it sounds like he either doesn't care about the problem or thinks his relationship with Putin is more important than human rights.