White House lowers expectations of Bush-Putin meeting in Maine

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – The White House is lowering expectations for President Bush's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that begins Sunday at the Bush family's oceanfront estate in Kennebunkport, Maine.

“I would caution against expecting grand new announcements,” White House press secretary Tony Snow said Wednesday of the meeting at the home of Bush's father, former President George H.W. Bush. “This is, in fact, an opportunity for two leaders to talk honestly and candidly with one another.”

---
Putin, who has vehemently opposed U.S. plans for missile defense in Central Europe, surprised Bush at a recent meeting in Germany of top industrialized countries, by proposing the shared use of a Russia-rented early warning radar in Azerbaijan.

Snow was careful not to dismiss Putin's suggestion, although Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said the United States will not embrace the facility in Azerbaijan as a substitute for radar and interceptors in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20070627-1251-bush-putin.html

[Solly Mack]

1. snicker

[Purveyor]

2. Something just provokes me to think that President Putin will find a way to make

this 'event' noteworthy, indeed!

He certainly isn't making the stop because of the 'good company'...

[Olney Blue]

3. Geez, I had such high hopes.

Not.

[msongs]

4. BUSH is in way over his head with putin....better they should send cheney, 2 peas in a pod nt

[kskiska]

5. When has * ever emerged with "grand new announcements"

after a summit meeting?

"Now watch this drive!"