The Bush Legacy

Vladimir Putin 'wanted to hang Georgian President Saakashvili by the balls'

With Russian tanks only 30 miles from Tbilisi on August 12, Mr Sarkozy told Mr Putin that the world would not accept the overthrow of Georgia’s Government. According to Mr Levitte, the Russian seemed unconcerned by international reaction. “I am going to hang Saakashvili by the balls,” Mr Putin declared.

Mr Sarkozy thought he had misheard. “Hang him?” — he asked. “Why not?” Mr Putin replied. “The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein.”

Mr Sarkozy, using the familiar tu, tried to reason with him: “Yes but do you want to end up like [President] Bush?” Mr Putin was briefly lost for words, then said: “Ah — you have scored a point there.”

There we go George, your legacy. You are now the diplomatic equivalent of "FACE!!!!!", brought up only to rub someone else's nose in shit, and are your policies are viewed as so toxic that it even gives men like Vladimir Putin pause. "You don't want to end up like Bush" is now a cautionary tale people use to strike at the vanity of politicians who want to get a little frisky with the military and laws of their country.

I'm glad someone learned something from these eight years, even if it is "You'll be severely unpopular if you do these things" and not "These things are morally and ethically wrong." Glad to have been a help.