Maybe his popularity will go down and he won't win the presidency.
"Putin spokesman admits staged dive" October 06, 2011|Associated Press
MOSCOW - The widely publicized images of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin pulling up ancient Greek jug fragments from the seabed on a diving expedition were staged, his chief spokesman said.
Happens every time I tune into a news channel.
The August dive in the Kerch Strait connecting the Black and Azov seas was reported extensively in Russian and overseas media. Putin is noted for his habit of appearing in vigorous and adventurous settings, including fishing while stripped to the waist.
In video footage of the dive, Putin holds two fragments of what are said to be sixth century BC Greek jugs and says “the boys and I found them’’ in about 6 feet of clear water.
But his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that the jugs had been found earlier by archaeologists and placed there for Putin.
“Look, Putin didn’t find down there jugs that had lain there for many thousands of years,’’ Peskov said.
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"Russian lawmakers gave first-round approval yesterday to a bill that strengthens punishments for pedophilia, including imposing mandatory chemical castration or life sentences in cases that involve repeated offenses....
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Putin needs to get his balls back:
"Putin vows $13b defense plant upgrade" October 08, 2011|By Associated Press
MOSCOW - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia said yesterday the government will spend more than $13 billion in the next three years on revamping the nation’s aging defense plants.
Putin told yesterday’s government meeting that 1,700 weapons factories need to be radically modernized in what he described as a “colossal work.’’
Putin said the government will earmark $13.7 billion for modernization of military industries over the next three years, adding that the upgrade is essential for fulfilling an ambitious program of new weapons purchases. “If we want to have weapons that answer the demands of today’s combat, … we need to revamp the military industrial complex,’’ he said....
In a speech to investors Thursday, Putin said that the weapons modernization program does not mean that Russia wants to engage in militarization, arguing that the country must replace old Soviet-built weapons that are approaching the end of their service lifetime.
Russia’s arms makers have faced harsh government criticism for failing to meet weapons orders. Analysts blame corruption, aging equipment, and broken links between subcontractors.
Sound familiar, American?
The pitiful state of Russian arms industries has been named as the main reason behind a string of test failures that have dogged the development of Russia’s latest ballistic missile, the Bulava, which is intended for the newest generation of Russia’s nuclear submarines. It has remained unclear when the missile could enter service.
Yeah, they would be easy to beat in a war, America.
Of course, that is what Napoleon and Hitler thought.
The development of Russia’s first stealth fighter, intended to match the latest US design, has also been slow....
The new Russian fighter still lacks newly designed engines and state-of-the art equipment, and its serial production is only expected to begin in 2015 at the most optimistic forecast.
The Defense Ministry also has harshly criticized Russian arms makers for hiking prices and failing to explain reasons behind the increase. Military officials said that some of the weapons offered are slightly revamped versions of the old Soviet designs.
Oh, they have cost overruns, too?
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