Bush says Russia won't attack Europe despite rhetoric

So while flipping through the news this morning, I found this headline and said to myself, what the F*(K?

Since when does the President of the United States give his word on how another sovereign nation is going to act and react. If anyone knows anything about European history, then they will realize how outrageous this statement becomes. This is almost as ludicrous as Neville Chamberlain saying we have peace in our hand, as he gave away Czechoslovakia in order to appease Hitler in Sept 1938.

Now, do I think that Russia is our enemy or that we are planning on attacking them or vice-versa right now? Of course not. But from 1945-1991, everyone in the western world viewed Russia (or the Soviet Union) as our mortal nuclear enemy. If you go back another 100 years the alliances between the major European powers tended to ebb and flow depending on who was warring with the other and what alliance and treaty was in effect. The point is that alliances change as the needs of different nations change over time.

I realize Bush was just trying to calm the storm (appease?) and actually talk (perhaps he should try this diplomatic strategy in the middle east) with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and needed to soothe the waters, but it is still pretty ridiculous. Read it for yourself and let me know what you think:

HEILIGENDAMM, Germany — President Bush today discounted Vladimir Putin's threat to re-target missiles on Europe, saying "Russia is not going to attack Europe."

Bush, in an interview with the Associated Press and other reporters, said that no U.S. military response was required after Putin warned that Russia would take steps in response to a U.S. missile shield that would be deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic.

"Russia is not an enemy," Bush said, sitting in a sun-drenched garden. "There needs to be no military response because we're not at war with Russia. Russia is not a threat."...

Putin rattled nerves in Europe with his weekend declaration that he would retarget missiles on Europe in response to the missile defense shield. "I don't think Vladimir Putin intends to attack Europe," Bush said.