Cuz We Said So

This gives me serious mixed feelings: Putin urges voters to back Bush.

First off, I don't think it's appropriate for Putin to overtly support an American candidate, any more than it's appropriate for others to back Kerry. I think that if foreign leaders want to opine on American policy, that's great, but they should not openly choose a candidate.

Putin supports Bush because

"International terrorists have set as their goal inflicting the maximum damage to Bush, to prevent his election to a second term.

"If they succeed in doing that, they will celebrate a victory over America and over the entire anti-terror coalition," Putin said.

Putin remains steadfastly opposed to the war in Iraq: "Today, our views on that differ from the views of President Bush."

Putin's comments shed a bright light on Kerry's claims that he can build a coalition in Iraq where Bush failed. Here Putin is openly saying he prefers Bush, and even Bush isn't going to bring us into Iraq.

But who knows? Perhaps Kerry can bring about the involvement of the all-powerful French and Germans.

Nah. Probably not.