Putin on Afghanistan [View All]

[paulsbc]

from the official transcript today. I heard this live and didn't see it discussed.

PRESIDENT PUTIN: Regarding declarative character of the relations between Russia and the United States. Where do, as we say in Russia, legs grow, where do some questions come from? This happens because people expect from us constantly some kind of revolutions. Now, just positive development in the relationship is no longer sufficient for them. I would like to point your attention that due to rapprochement between Russia and the United States we manage to establish and to create in the world, an atmosphere and trust -- of trust and strategic stability.

This had very practical results, including in such sensitive areas as combating terrorism. I have never said this in public, I'm going to do it today. When counterterrorist operation began in Afghanistan, we were approached by people, through several channels, we were approached by people who intended to fight against Americans in Afghanistan. And if by that time President Bush and I had not formed appropriate relationship, as we have, so no one knows what turn would the developments in Afghanistan had taken. You know what was Russia's position, and it helped, to a great extent, to achieve further results that we have achieved in Afghanistan, and was for a very good purpose.

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so, did Bush actually do something right post-9/11 and enable our rapid victory in Afghanistan b/c the Russians kept out of it?

what "channels" and what "people who intended to fight against Americans" is he talking about?