| The two "soul brothers" had their last get together- | | | | defense and other difficult issues. Russia remains |
| that would be George Bush and Vladimir Putin. In their | | | | adamantly opposed to the expansion of the alliance |
| last buddy to buddy meeting with pictures of them | | | | into its backyard, an enlargement that Bush has |
| standing looking at the setting sun, they failed to | | | | actively championed over Putin's vocal objections. |
| overcome sharp differences over a U.S. missile | | | | Putin called the U.S. missile plan - which envisions |
| defense system, closing their seven-year relationship | | | | basing tracking radar sites in the Czech Republic and |
| Sunday still far apart on an issue that has separated | | | | interceptors in Poland - the hardest of US-Russian |
| them from the beginning. | | | | differences to reconcile. "This is not about language. |
| Both men are departing the center stage of politics in | | | | This is not about diplomatic phrasing or wording. This |
| some regards: Bush far more than Putin, though Bush | | | | is about the substance of the issue," he said. |
| has nine more months to enjoy his reign as president | | | | Bush reiterated his insistence that the plan - designed |
| of the most powerful nation on earth. Who will get | | | | to intercept and destroy approaching ballistic missiles |
| to deal with Putin in the future- McCain, Hillary, or | | | | at high altitudes - should not be viewed as a threat |
| Obama. We already know that Putin despises Hillary. | | | | to Russia. In a clear reference to Iran, he said the |
| But there's no need to create more enemies now. | | | | system would help protect Europe from "regimes |
| Putin steps down as president May 7th and | | | | that could try to hold us hostage." |
| Medvedev, the president-elect - would be in charge | | | | Ah, but politics needs to wait for another day as |
| of Russia's foreign policy after May 7, uness Putin, | | | | these two "sould brothers" started the day much like |
| who is expected to be named prime minister keeps | | | | civil brothers as on Sunday, Putin greeted Bush at the |
| that role. | | | | door of the guesthouse and escorted him downstairs |
| Putin said at a news conference with Bush at his | | | | to a wood-paneled room with tall windows facing the |
| vacation house at this Black Sea resort. "We got a | | | | sea. They sat alongside each other in chairs before a |
| lot of way to go." Despite the impasse, the two | | | | fireplace with unlit logs. A crush of cameramen, |
| leaders agreed that Moscow and Washington would | | | | photographers and reporters crowded the room. |
| work together closely in the future on missile | | | | Ahhhh! |