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  • Putin's cannibals gaffe

    The Sun
    14.06.2005

    Putin's 'cannibals' gaffe

    By DAVID WOODING
    in Moscow

    RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin sparked uproar yesterday by saying
    Africans had a history of CANNIBALISM.

    He lashed out at the continent’s past after being challenged about his
    human rights’ record.

    In an astonishing outburst, Mr Putin said: “We all know that African
    countries used to have a tradition of eating their own adversaries.

    “We don’t have such a tradition or process or culture and I believe the
    comparison between Africa and Russia is not quite just.”

    Tony Blair, who had just finished talks with Mr Putin, was left
    squirming with embarrassment as the former KGB boss let rip.

    Minutes before the outburst, Mr Blair had hailed reaching a deal with
    the Russian leader on aid and debt relief for Africa.

    But Mr Putin’s remarks about cannibalism will be greeted with
    astonishment in Africa and the wider world, as he will succeed the PM as
    G8 president next year.

    Commission for Racial Equality chief Trevor Phillips said last night:
    “What a preposterous thing to say. He is at best insensitive and at
    worst a downright racist.”

    Mr Putin had invited Mr Blair to his country residence for talks about
    the Prime Minister’s drive to wipe out third world poverty before next
    month’s G8 summit at Gleneagles.

    The pair struck a deal after Mr Blair agreed to Mr Putin’s demands that
    aid was linked to Africa’s move towards democracy.

    Earlier Mr Blair made a grovelling public apology for being the only
    senior world leader to miss a gathering to mark the 60th anniversary of
    the end of World War Two in Moscow last month.

    He sent Deputy PM John Prescott instead.

    Without prompting, Mr Blair said sorry yesterday and paid tribute to the
    “courage, dedication and heroism” of the Russian people.

    http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005270254,00.html

  • #2
    LOL Putin has much worse qualities then being a bigot. Being a fascist for one.

    Comment


    • #3
      Coming from a long line of 'long pig' eaters myself, I can't really see what the problem is
      In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

      Leibniz

      Comment


      • #4
        LOL Putin has much worse qualities then being a bigot. Being a fascist for one.
        :)
        To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

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        • #5
          Africans(some of them) were cannibals.

          What's the big deal?

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          • #6
            Originally posted by M21Sniper
            Africans(some of them) were cannibals.

            What's the big deal?
            He's using it to justify his own actions.

            Comment


            • #7
              At first I thought this article said cannabis gaffe... but thats pretty damn funny, I mean think about it how many Africans live in Russia? Moreover, one could argue the USSR's expansionst policies in Africa led to its collapse, so Vlad may have some ill will toward the "Dark Continent."

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              • #8
                Well , So ?

                USA has its wonderfull pages in HR records , so does Russia.So does every country.

                Get on with it.

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                • #9
                  The point isn't whether the Africans had a history of CANNIBALISM, the point is that he is dodging the question

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by SamudraGupta
                    Well , So ?

                    USA has its wonderfull pages in HR records , so does Russia.So does every country.

                    Get on with it.
                    The idea that there is an equivalence between Russia's Human Rights record and America's is false.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      "Well , So ?
                      USA has its wonderfull pages in HR records , so does Russia.So does every country.
                      Get on with it."

                      "The idea that there is an equivalence between Russia's Human Rights record and America's is false."

                      It's thrue that comparing Russia and US on human rights is almost impossible, but realistically every country has sometimes turn an blind eye to HR (usually not on high levels) if it has had suited their interests. It's difficult to implement HR on the ground if you are in war (specialy against terrorism). The question is, if it is prosecuted.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by SloMax
                        It's thrue that comparing Russia and US on human rights is almost impossible,
                        I think it's quite easy. Russian history is littered with the bodies of well over a hundred million innocent people.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Leader
                          I think it's quite easy. Russian history is littered with the bodies of well over a hundred million innocent people.

                          The number isn't as high as a hundred millions; however, the death toll in Soviet gulags is very high.

                          What one must realize about the USSR is that it was a body that aimed to mash very diverse and proud ethnic groups into one heaping country. It's hard to get ethnic minorities to follow suit to the will of a powerful leader, and instead of working towards an ultimate goal, Stalin sent those who he felt would cause problems to their death. Soviet Russia and modern Russia, have some similarities, but are intrinsically different animals.

                          Putin was pressed on a question that was knowingly inflammatory. Imagine if the US were likened to Nazi Germany -- there would be screams from both the left and right of American politics.

                          Someone threw a question at Putin that aimed to get him to lose his cool, and it worked. The question is nothing but garbage and should be treated as such.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Phillippe
                            The number isn't as high as a hundred millions; however, the death toll in Soviet gulags is very high.
                            I'm not just talking about Soviet prisons.

                            Soviet Russia and modern Russia, have some similarities, but are intrinsically different animals.
                            That remains to be seen.

                            Putin was pressed on a question that was knowingly inflammatory. Imagine if the US were likened to Nazi Germany -- there would be screams from both the left and right of American politics.
                            Not so much on the left. The left is fond of that analogy.

                            Someone threw a question at Putin that aimed to get him to lose his cool, and it worked. The question is nothing but garbage and should be treated as such.
                            As I said, Putin has more important flaws.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              This clause in the newspaper is an example of how the western press deforms news from Russia.
                              Prezidet Putin spoke about this person.
                              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-B%C3%A9del_Bokassa
                              Last edited by VovaLee; 29 Jun 05,, 12:56.

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