Putin points to U.S. role in Gadhafi’s killing

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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused U.S. drones and special forces of involvement in the death of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in comments Thursday.

He also attacked U.S. Sen. John McCain over a warning that Russia might follow the same path as Libya, suggesting McCain was not of sound mind following his time as a prisoner during the Vietnam War.

Putin’s comments were prompted by a question during his traditional year-end question-and-answer program, broadcast live by state media.

Responding to a question about McCain purportedly predicting Putin would meet the same fate as Libya’s leader, the Russian prime minister described the televised images of Gadhafi’s final moments as “horrible, disgusting scenes” and pointed to U.S. involvement in his death.

“Is that democracy? Who did this? Drones, including those of the U.S., struck his motorcade and then commandos, who were not supposed to be there, called for the so-called opposition and militants by the radio, and he was killed without an investigation or trial,” Putin said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta acknowledged the day after Gadhafi’s death that “it was a U.S. drone combined with the other NATO planes that fired on the convoy” in which the Libyan leader was traveling outside the city of Sirte. But the Pentagon has denied that any U.S. forces were on the ground in a combat role in Libya.

When asked about McCain, Putin said he had met the senator from Arizona, but said the questioner’s description of him as the prime minister’s friend was “exaggerated.”

He then questioned the mental state of McCain, who ran for U.S. president in 2008, saying he “was taken prisoner in Vietnam, and was held not just in jail, but was put in a pit where he was kept for several years — any person under those circumstances would hardly remain mentally sane.”

Shortly afterward, McCain himself jumped into the row via Twitter, posting: “Dear Vlad, is it something I said?” and linking to a news story headlining the Russian prime minister calling McCain “nuts.”

The senator’s earlier Twitter posts had linked to news stories suggesting Russia might be in line for its own version of the “Arab Spring” but did not appear to suggest Putin would meet the same fate as Gadhafi.

Putin’s attack may be a response to critical comments made by McCain in the U.S. Senate last week.

McCain said his statement was a response to “the flawed Duma election that just occurred this weekend, and in light of my strong belief that the growing demand for dignity and uncorrupt governance that has defined the Arab world this year may impact Russia as well.”

McCain highlighted “the unfortunate issue of Russia’s continued back-sliding on human rights and democracy” and said the post-election protests were unsurprising given “the pattern of corruption and abuse that the Russian government has perpetrated over many years.”

He also criticized Russia’s “absolutely shameless” blocking of U.N. Security Council action on President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, despite widespread concerns over human rights abuses there.

“The demand for dignity, and justice, and democracy that is shaking the Arab world to its foundations will not be confined to that one region alone,” he said, but will spread and demonstrate that change is possible. “And it appears that message may be resonating with people in Russia,” he added.

In his televised remarks, Putin suggested that criticism of Russia was linked to its pursuit of “an independent foreign policy.”

While his country had more friends than enemies in Europe, he said, “some would like to sideline Russia so that it doesn’t get in the way of those wanting to dominate the globe.”

Putin’s latest comments come a week after he blamed the United States for encouraging opposition protests in the wake of Russia’s parliamentary elections.

He said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had criticized the elections as “neither fair not free — even before receiving reports from international observers.”

This had sent a signal to opposition figures, Putin said, who “with the support of the U.S. State Department” then began “active work.”

Clinton responded to those remarks by restating her country’s “strong commitment to democracy and human rights.”

CNN

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24 responses to “Putin points to U.S. role in Gadhafi’s killing”

  1. 5thDrawer Avatar

    Well, let’s just say that Russia is to Europe what the USA is to the Americas. Big business and bigger concepts of ‘how things should be’ ….
    He might have a point about McCain as a POW … but in the USA there are some checks on the political system and how one gets to be president (we hope) – as opposed to the Russian version of democracy since the wall fell … in a country where Putin owns most of the big business.
    Political warhorses taking shots at each other. Sounds friendly, almost.

    1. To be honest, I fully agree with the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in this respect. I mean come on it was so obvious that US Drones killed the late Libyan leader and afterwords  his body was mutilated by the Libyan rebels.

      Another point that I agree with him is that John McCain can sometimes be very irritating asshole.

      1. Facts please when there is more than ample video, audio and personal accounts of his capture and death available all over the Internet. In other words, wrong answer.

        Name one Arab leader that has a record of over 40 years of service to his country in local or state government that isn’t a dictator, or in his service. The rest are guilty of embezzlement or mafia handed ways.
        You wish you had someone so dedicated to doing right to his citizens and country. Anytime someone gets close to being a positive thing for you guys, you kill them…

        1. I beg to disagree with you sir,

          The truth is that Mouammar Gadhafi’s convoy came under fire from a US drone missile while escaping his home town Sert. This missile attack severely wounded him and killed most of his personal bodyguards. Shortly after this incident Gadhafi was spotted by NATO mercenaries while hiding and you know what happened next.

          Sir, let me make this clear: I’m not in any way defending the Arab authoritarian regimes, but we have to learn to be objective while stating the facts.

          Peace be with you.

          1. No, You openly stated that WE killed him with a drone. Theres a big difference between killing him and attacking a convoy of vehicles that turned out to be his.Thats why I call facts please. Your embellishing on a story.

        2. prophettt Avatar

          Iran, In your reply to Sebouh,below, You acknowledged that a  US drone attacked a “convoy of vehicles  that just turned out  to be his”(Ghadafi’s).
          According to this story, this drone was not throwing red roses on this convoy,but rather had all the intentions to  attack for the purpose of  killing who ever was on that convoy.
           It is a well known fact that these kind of attacks(by these drones)  are usually designed  to attack special targets,and in this  case ,the target was Ghadafi himself.Let us not twist words,and split hair  now.
          Are you to tell us that, had they known that this convoy was Ghadafi’s they would have refrained from attacking it?lol
          According to your logic, we can say that it was not a first degree murder, but a A felony which had resulted in a a murder. But for all other casualties on that convoy it is a first degree murder, but for Ghadafi’s  it is a “collateral casualty” since it was an accidental death?isn’t?
          I hate to tell you that, Your lawyer-like defense is nothing but an insult to intelligence.

          1. No Prophettt,I’m quite sure if we knew it was him we would of struck him. not this time, we were legally targeting all sorts of activity as per your own Arab League and a UN and NATO mandate..He specifically stated that WE killed him with a drone.While we attacked the convoy, it RESULTED in him being captured by the FLA. It’s not a insult to your intelligence, its a result of factual evidence.
            You just might have them picking off Hezbollah soon, cause Syria’s coming up followed by Iran, I personally wouldn’t want to be harboring these monsters when the bombs fall.We are pretty surgical, so just stay out of the way

          2. No Prophettt,I’m quite sure if we knew it was him we would of struck him. not this time, we were legally targeting all sorts of activity as per your own Arab League and a UN and NATO mandate..He specifically stated that WE killed him with a drone.While we attacked the convoy, it RESULTED in him being captured by the FLA. It’s not a insult to your intelligence, its a result of factual evidence.
            You just might have them picking off Hezbollah soon, cause Syria’s coming up followed by Iran, I personally wouldn’t want to be harboring these monsters when the bombs fall.We are pretty surgical, so just stay out of the way

        3. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Of course Iran Aware, a convoy was attacked, and stopped from running … it was what they were doing to any ‘enemy’ in that war – with NO feet on the ground. Hard to determine who’s under the hats from drone video. Prophet should know it’s not murder, it’s war. It only became a murder after The Daffy was captured … and that’s only under Geneva Conventions on War – which I have yet to see anyone in the M E applying (religiously or otherwise).
          And yes I A, you are right – there is ample video of what happened. Trying to twist it into something it wasn’t is wrong.
          Splitting hairs Prophet? Tsk.

      2. Facts please when there is more than ample video, audio and personal accounts of his capture and death available all over the Internet. In other words, wrong answer.

        Name one Arab leader that has a record of over 40 years of service to his country in local or state government that isn’t a dictator, or in his service. The rest are guilty of embezzlement or mafia handed ways.
        You wish you had someone so dedicated to doing right to his citizens and country. Anytime someone gets close to being a positive thing for you guys, you kill them…

  2.  Avatar

    Well, let’s just say that Russia is to Europe what the USA is to the Americas. Big business and bigger concepts of ‘how things should be’ ….
    He might have a point about McCain as a POW … but in the USA there are some checks on the political system and how one gets to be president (we hope) – as opposed to the Russian version of democracy since the wall fell … in a country where Putin owns most of the big business.
    Political warhorses taking shots at each other. Sounds friendly, almost.

    1.  Avatar

      To be honest, I fully agree with the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in this respect. I mean come on it was so obvious that US Drones killed the late Libyan leader and afterwords  his body was mutilated by the Libyan rebels.

      Another point that I agree with him is that John McCain can sometimes be very irritating asshole.

      1. Facts please when there is more than ample video, audio and personal accounts of his capture and death available all over the Internet. In other words, wrong answer.

        Name one Arab leader that has a record of over 40 years of service to his country in local or state government that isn’t a dictator, or in his service. The rest are guilty of embezzlement or mafia handed ways.
        You wish you had someone so dedicated to doing right to his citizens and country. Anytime someone gets close to being a positive thing for you guys, you kill them…

        1.  Avatar

          I beg to disagree with you sir,

          The truth is that Mouammar Gadhafi’s convoy came under fire from a US drone missile while escaping his home town Sert. This missile attack severely wounded him and killed most of his personal bodyguards. Shortly after this incident Gadhafi was spotted by NATO mercenaries while hiding and you know what happened next.

          Sir, let me make this clear: I’m not in any way defending the Arab authoritarian regimes, but we have to learn to be objective while stating the facts.

          Peace be with you.

          1. No, You openly stated that WE killed him with a drone. Theres a big difference between killing him and attacking a convoy of vehicles that turned out to be his.Thats why I call facts please. Your embellishing on a story.

          2. No, You openly stated that WE killed him with a drone. Theres a big difference between killing him and attacking a convoy of vehicles that turned out to be his.Thats why I call facts please. Your embellishing on a story.

          3. No, You openly stated that WE killed him with a drone. Theres a big difference between killing him and attacking a convoy of vehicles that turned out to be his.Thats why I call facts please. Your embellishing on a story.

        2.  Avatar

          Iran, In your reply to Sebouh,below, You acknowledged that a  US drone attacked a “convoy of vehicles  that just turned out  to be his”(Ghadafi’s).Clearly this drone was not throwing red roses on this convoy,but rather had all the intentions to  attack for the purpose of  killing who ever was on that convoy.
           It is a well known fact that these kind of attacks(by these drones)  are usually designed  to attack special targets,and in this  case ,the target was Ghadafi himself.Let us not twist words,and split hair  now. Are you to tell us that, had they known that this convoy was Ghadafi’s they would have refrained from attacking it?lol
          So now we can say that it was not a first degree murder, but a A felony which had resulted in a a murder. But for all other casualties on that convoy it is a first degree murder, but for Ghadafi’s  it is accidental?isn’t?

          1. No Prophettt,I’m quite sure if we knew it was him we would of struck him. not this time, we were legally targeting all sorts of activity as per your own Arab League and a UN and NATO mandate..He specifically stated that WE killed him with a drone.While we attacked the convoy, it RESULTED in him being captured by the FLA. It’s not a insult to your intelligence, its a result of factual evidence.
            You just might have them picking off Hezbollah soon, cause Syria’s coming up followed by Iran, I personally wouldn’t want to be harboring these monsters when the bombs fall.We are pretty surgical, so just stay out of the way

        3.  Avatar

          Of course Iran Aware, a convoy was attacked, and stopped from running … it was what they were doing to any ‘enemy’ in that war – with NO feet on the ground. Hard to determine who’s under the hats from drone video. Prophet should know it’s not murder, it’s war. It only became a murder after The Daffy was captured … and that’s only under Geneva Conventions on War – which I have yet to see anyone in the M E applying (religiously or otherwise).
          And yes I A, you are right – there is ample video of what happened. Trying to twist it into something it wasn’t is wrong.
          Splitting hairs Prophet? Tsk.

  3. Difference is…
     McCain NEVER left the POW camp for over 5 years until his fellow prisoners were released with him.
    Putin has lots of political prisoners.
    McCain was democratically elected to office every time in a legal vote and has contributed over 40 years of his life to his country.
    Putin was KGB, until he took power and has stolen the vote ever since.
    Who’s the evil here?

  4. Difference is…
     McCain NEVER left the POW camp for over 5 years until his fellow prisoners were released with him.
    Putin has lots of political prisoners.
    McCain was democratically elected to office every time in a legal vote and has contributed over 40 years of his life to his country.
    Putin was KGB, until he took power and has stolen the vote ever since.
    Who’s the evil here?

  5. “I mean come on it was so obvious that US Drones killed the late Libyan
    leader and afterwards  his body was mutilated by the Libyan rebels.”
    is his exact quote 5D.
    Im not implying anything, he is, and in a area known for where words mean everything it’s alot. If we killed him with the drone, that must of been magic when he was stumbling around for several minutes with his captors.. Better alert the Saudi witchcraft police…
    disinformation is a scourge on the Arab people, they have been lied to enough dont you think?

  6. “I mean come on it was so obvious that US Drones killed the late Libyan
    leader and afterwards  his body was mutilated by the Libyan rebels.”
    is his exact quote 5D.
    Im not implying anything, he is, and in a area known for where words mean everything it’s alot. If we killed him with the drone, that must of been magic when he was stumbling around for several minutes with his captors.. Better alert the Saudi witchcraft police…
    disinformation is a scourge on the Arab people, they have been lied to enough dont you think?

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