We're Getting Close

A near-flying pig moment: UK's Guardian is beginning to get it.

A Bush administration source cautioned against any breakthroughs in US-Russian relations at the G8 summit. Hopes have been transferred to a more relaxed meeting at the Bush holiday compound in New England, scheduled for July 1-2.

. . . US concerns include the crackdown by Mr Putin on pro-democracy activists in Russia, increasing centralisation and the possibility that he will not stand down, as required by the constitution, at the end of his term in office. There are fears that Mr Putin could exploit the showdown with the US as an excuse to extend his stay.

Under Russia's constitution, Mr Putin is obliged to step down next spring after two four-year terms as leader. Mr Putin has always insisted he will leave office on schedule. But over the weekend he said he was too young to retire - a hint that he may be considering a continued political role.

Most analysts believe Mr Putin will indeed leave office unless he is convinced that Russia faces a serious external threat. But Mr Putin's recent attacks on the west - and the sharp decline in US-Russian relations - could be interpreted as a sign that the threat has now arrived.

If SDI isn't enough, there's always Putie's very recent concern about bioterrorism.

The pro-Kremlin United Russia party today said it would discuss with Mr Putin the issue of having longer presidential terms - probably from 2012 - lasting for five or even seven years. "We will have a meeting in early July and I believe we will discuss this initiative in detail,' Boris Gryzlov, the party's leader and Duma speaker said today.

All this and George Soros isn't in Moscow to give moral support to the Soviet Russian paranoid.