"I CALL HIM VLADIMIR"

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN USED TO BE PRO-AMERICAN.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Last month President Bush told the American people that, "Russia is not our enemy and that my message to him will be: 'Vladimir - I call him Vladimir' - you shouldn't fear our missile defense system.”

Bush said he would take a message to Russian President Putin that "we can work together on common threats."

'Vladimir' obviously knows the difference between offensive and defensive missile systems in his backyard and is now following in the footsteps of the surge in anti-Americanism that followed the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

Putin is selling arms and missile systems to Venezuela, Syria and Iran, and offering nuclear reactors to Burma and Saudi Arabia. Communist China is busy making oil deals and military alliances with several countries all over the world while we sit back and watch.

Before his visit with Bush last month, Putin hosted Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in Moscow, where they signed a $3 billion arms deal.

WHAT HAPPENED?

First, the United States ignored Russian objections to invading Iraq, then it encroached on Russia's traditional sphere of influence in the Baltics, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Ukraine.

In Munich last February, Putin railed against America the "hyperpower" that has flouted international law. Later, he compared Washington's imperialism to the Third Reich and threatened to redirect Russian nukes at Europe.

At his Crawford White House, Bush praised Putin as someone "who is going to help make the world more peaceful by working closely with the United States." Hmmmm.

Obviously, many other countries, now including Russia, view the United States as a power hungry, rogue nation and a threat to their sovereignty. We have now alienated everybody we can't afford to buy off.

NEWS FLASH

Bagdad - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday that the Iraqi army and police are capable of keeping security in the country when American troops leave “any time they want,” though he acknowledged the forces need further weapons and training.

One wonders - "Why are we still there?"