Putin in push to extend his term

[Khephra]

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin is considering extending his term of office, due to expire in 2008, in a sign of his determination to tighten his grip on power and crack down on terrorism after the Beslan school massacre.

Moscow sources say plans are being drawn up to lengthen Mr Putin's mandate from four years to seven, or to change the rules so he can stand for a third term as president.

If implemented, this measure would make Mr Putin the longest-serving Russian leader since Leonid Brezhnev, who ruled the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982.

The plans emerged at the end of a week in which Mr Putin announced the ending of the election of regional governors.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10817155%255E2703,00.html

[JuniorPlankton]

1. Why am I not surprised?

[arwalden]

2. Is This The Return Of The Red-Menace?

Will the cold-war start up again? Do we have someone ELSE to hate and fear? Another reason to build our military and nuclear capabilities?

-- Allen

[salin]

4. Nah... Bush looked into Pooty-Poot's eyes

and saw his "soul"... suddenly an autocratic Russia, run by the former head of the KGB, is acceptable to the old cold warriors.... :shrug:

[Lizzie Borden]

8. I don't think Putin...

was ever head of the KGB although he was an agent.

[w4rma]

3. And Shrub has trapped us in IRAQ!!! !@@#@!$!$

Not to mention alienating all of our alies. In addition to his inability and cowardness to speak with other leaders and condemn this type of thing.

[Myrina]

5. OH sh&t let's hope George doesn't read that !

"It would be alot easier if it were a dictatorship, and I were the dictator" (paraphrase)

:scared:

[AG78]

6. Sigh

"AMERICAN President George Bush is considering extending his term of office, due to expire in 2004, in a sign of his determination to tighten his grip on power and crack down on terrorism after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Washington sources say plans are being drawn up to lengthen Mr Bush's mandate from four years to seven, or to change the rules so he can stand for a third term as president.

If implemented, this measure would make Mr Bush the longest-serving American leader since Ronald Reagan(yeah, yeah, Bill Clinton...but don't ruin the fun), who ruled the United States from 1981 to 1989.

The plans emerged at the end of a week in which Mr Bush announced the ending of the election of anything and everything."


Where are we? What year do we live in?

Great, another stand off with Russia. That's what we need. We're heading down an ugly path. The 20th century was the bloodiest in human history. Good start to this one so far.

[Matilda]

7. I guess the relief at getting rid of Yeltsin was so great,

nobody bothered to look hard at what makes Putin tick.