The wrong way to do diplomacy...

**Ronin** · 10-26-2007, 11:16

As you guys may or may not know...the Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Lisbon for a summit with the European union.

Reuters Story

The main point on the table is discussions regarding energy and trade between Russian and the EU...it is hoped that this summit might help improve the relations between the two parts.

The problem is that this morning because of Putin´s visit a bunch of roads around Lisbon were cut to traffic, turning the already bad morning rush hour situation into a major cluster **** of impressive dimensions that made everyone late for work....

if I took a pool here at the office right now I´m pretty sure 80% of the guys would want to kick Putin´s ass if they were in the same room as him....

popular diplomacy at work!

*DISCLAIMER: This message represents the official view of the voices in my head, it was written in good humor and represents no ill-will towards our esteemed visitor....no harm...no foul....I take my tea without polonium thank you.*

**Geoffrey S** · 10-26-2007, 11:19

Hang on; Putin visits, Portugese government screws up the traffic to accomodate him, Putin gets the blame?

**Ronin** · 10-26-2007, 11:23

Originally Posted by Geoffrey S

Hang on; Putin visits, Portugese government screws up the traffic to accomodate him, Putin gets the blame?

man...we are ranting here in the office....do not bring logic into this and ruin the rant!

**Gregoshi** · 10-26-2007, 12:56

The same thing goes on here wherever the President shows up. It is no wonder so little seems to get accomplished by the government when just their mere presence brings traffic to a standstill.

**CrossLOPER** · 10-26-2007, 16:27

Originally Posted by Geoffrey S

Hang on; Putin visits, Portugese government screws up the traffic to accomodate him, Putin gets the blame?

Yes! How dare a president.... visit other countries on diplomatic business....?

Georgia apparently does not get too many visits. IIRC, the last time this state had a visit was a few years ago from Dick Cheney. His visit was out of the way and relatively well coordinated, despite the fact that there was only a few roads that lead to where he was going.

**HoreTore** · 10-26-2007, 20:03

I don't really understand why we care so much about our presidents, PM's, etc. After all, we do live in a democracy, don't we? They're not running the country, we are! If they get killed, so what? When did we get short on politicians?

**rotorgun** · 10-26-2007, 20:28

Tell Putin to Vaipra casa! (Not sure of the spelling here) It basically means to get the h___l home. I remember that's what the Portuguese guys used to say to the "Gringos" that they didn't much care for back home.

Viva Portugal!

**Proletariat** · 10-26-2007, 22:02

Originally Posted by HoreTore

If they get killed, so what? When did we get short on politicians?

**Louis VI the Fat** · 10-26-2007, 22:24

Naturally, my heart goes out to all Lisboans who had to endure some traffic complications on their way to work.

Meanwhile, in the category 'trivial yet fun facts to know' about this summit:

Putin evokes Cuban missile crisis
By Tony Barber in Mafra

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, on Friday compared US plans to build a missile defence shield near Russia’s borders to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

Mr Putin quickly qualified his remarks, made after a summit with European Union leaders in Portugal, by saying that US-Russian relations had moved on since the Cold War and that he and George W. Bush, the US president, had a good personal relationship.

But Mr Putin’s deliberate evocation of one of history’s most dangerous episodes did little to soothe the nerves of his European hosts who, like their US allies, are struggling to stabilise a relationship with Russia that has more points of friction than at any time since the Soviet Union’s demise in 1991.

More

This after Europe had to take it up the **** last week from Viktor Khristenko, Russian Minister of Industry and Energy:

Will EU efforts to limit "objectionable" investment have an effect on Russia-EU industrial and energy co-operation? It is difficult to predict. But the world market generates not only risks but opportunities. Russia stretches across more than one geographical region and we can diversify our industrial and energy co-operation by turning to Asian and Pacific countries. Incidentally, the eastern vector has an important domestic dimension - such co-operation will help us develop eastern Siberia and east Asia. But I am convinced the EU has been and will remain our key partner.

Viktor Khristenko,

Russian Minister of Industry and Energy

The complete text from Khristenko's infamous letter to the Financial Times that has caused such a stir in diplomatic circles.

**Pannonian** · 10-26-2007, 23:02

Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat

This after Europe had to take it up the **** last week from Viktor Khristenko, Russian Minister of Industry and Energy:

The complete text from Khristenko's infamous letter to the Financial Times that has caused such a stir in diplomatic circles.

Beautiful diplomacy.

"We can really shaft you if we ever want to, but I'm sure you'll be sensible and accommodate us."

**Boyar Son** · 10-26-2007, 23:46

Originally Posted by rotorgun

Tell Putin to Vaipra casa! (Not sure of the spelling here) It basically means to get the h___l home. I remember that's what the Portuguese guys used to say to the "Gringos" that they didn't much care for back home.

Viva Portugal!

gringos?!?!

portuguese start sayin tha too?!?

someone needs to show them a geography map

brazilians too, not alot of them are mestizos (SP?)

**Husar** · 10-27-2007, 00:04

Originally Posted by HoreTore

I don't really understand why we care so much about our presidents, PM's, etc. After all, we do live in a democracy, don't we? They're not running the country, we are! If they get killed, so what? When did we get short on politicians?

I think I've posted that before somewhere, been thinking that for some time actually.

If we wouldn't care about them, they would not even be targets. Kill one and we elect a new one with exactly the same policies.

**rotorgun** · 10-27-2007, 20:19

Originally Posted by Boyar Son

gringos?!?!

portuguese start sayin tha too?!?

someone needs to show them a geography map

brazilians too, not alot of them are mestizos (SP?)

Sorry there Boyar Son. I used the word "Gringos" to differentiate between the non Portuguese Americans compared to those of Portuguese decent back in my home town. We used to get into alot of playground fistfights with each other......Rather childish looking back on it. I'm not really sure what the Potuguese dudes used to call us. I'm sure that it was rather unsavory.