NYT: Russia has offered to use its contacts in the Libyan government to expedite Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s departure from power, top officials announced Friday at a meeting of the Group of 8 countries in Deauville, France.
….The announcement, which came after intensive talks between President Obama and the Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev, represents a sharp shift in Russia’s tone on Libya….
Mr. Medvedev told Mr. Obama in their meeting that Russia is committed to seeing Colonel Qaddafi leave office …The offer articulated on Friday would remove Russia from the sidelines and cast it as a central player in resolving the conflict.
Full article here
Thank you Naijas
****
When Medvedev was a law student he used to read articles in the Harvard Law Review by a guy with a funny name. He was, he said, hugely impressed. Now? Medvedev is Russian President, Barack Obama….well, you know.
From April 2010:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: What do you make of Barack Obama the man?
MEDVEDEV: He’s a very comfortable partner, it’s very interesting to be with him. The most important thing that distinguishes him from many other people – I won’t name anyone by name – he’s a thinker, he thinks when he speaks. Which is already pretty good.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You had somebody in your mind, I think. (LAUGHS)
MEDVEDEV: Obviously I do have someone on my mind. I don’t want to offend anyone. He’s eager to listen to his partner, which is a pretty good quality for a politician. Because any politician is to a certain degree a mentor. They preach something. And the ability to listen to their partner is very important for the politician. And he is pretty deeply emerged in the subject, so he has a good knowledge of what he’s talking about. There was no instance in our meetings with Mr. Obama where he wasn’t well prepared for the questions. This is very good. And after all, he’s simply a very pleasant man with whom it’s a pleasure to deal with.
***
Not for the first time, brains, diplomacy and mutual respect have paid off 😉
The Obama Diary 
I WILL NEVER ‘COUNT MY CHICKENS’ ON RUSSIA.
Yeah, this is potentially good news, but we should also wait to see how it pans out. Still, this new open line of communication and cooperation with Russia and other countries is promising.
This is indeed a BFD- absolutely wonderful, our President working working working on behalf of us all 🙂
Me too! This is indeed fabulous. I would imagine Russia is getting some bad media over their lack of support for the victims of that radical idiot.
Again, Yahoooo!
Thanks Chipsticks.
well I’ll be damnned 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮
I think these two men really like each other.
I think so too. I could really see the chemistry between them. Just like I saw the chemistry between him and Enda Kenny.
Look at how huge POTUS’s feet are compared to Medvedev! I believe I read somewhere that POTUS wears a size 13 shoe.
size 13, mmmmm I like this information. 🙂
Pres Obama’s shoe SIZE 13!
WOW, no wonder he has so much confidence LOL. 🙂
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
You’re bad!
They are bad. OMG. That kelly is a devil.
*smiles innocently* 🙂
REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!…LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL…:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
LOL! I think it may even be 14. I know this because back on the campaign trail, for some reason, he had one of Shaq’s shoes and took a pic with his foot next to it. And the caption noted his shoe size compared to Shaq’s. It was either 13 or 14, but I know it was huge.
Chipstick lol 🙂
I think I saw that video a while back Kels.
Well, if we’re talking about Shaq and “shoe size”, I’ve heard rumor from those who would know that the legend does not hold true in Shaq’s case. He has, shall we say, some shortcomings…
😳
Hahahaha…. Too funny Theo67
Buuuuurrrrrnnnnn. 8o 😉
you’re on fire lady 😀
80
LOL Theo67. Maybe the legend starts to reverse itself when the shoe size is extreme. 🙂
Grrr… you girls are dangerous. 😀
Our President is AWESOME!! Kudos to the Russian President as well.
I know this was a hard sell so we must take out hats off once again to our President and his ability to influence and shape world events. BRAVO.
Exactly. I saw the news on MSNBC and it is indeed a BFD. Knowing the MSM they’ll try to spin some negative BS out of this. But for now: Thank you PBO for a being a THINKER.
Fabulous!
Medvedev’s (and Russia’s) problem is that Putin wants to be President again.
yes unfortunately.
It seems that Medvedev is a Centrist who is also a rational and pragmatic man who is trying to do the right thing
And if this results in a surrender from Ghaddafi then the haters here will have eggs on their faces, AGAIN.
OMG, OMG, OMG. This is a BFD. I am so overwhelmed with emotion right now. Tears are flowing. I can’t put into words what I am feeling. This man is who we all knew he was and so much more.
MT, we are truly witnessing history. I believe Doris Kearns-Goodwin is following the President in Europe. I can’t wait to hear what she and other Presidential historians will say.
I think she is too. She will have lots to say. I really like her and her books.
Wonderful news! Our President’s diplomatic skills are successful again – I believe Medvedev is trying to get out from Putin’s shadow and make his own decisions as well. It’s a partnership worth working on – this is a substantial shift in policy for Russia.
I just read on another site that Russia has stopped their support for Libya…..What a wonderful leader we have in President Obama
Wow this is major. Thank you President Barack Obama for all your hard work.
BFD indeed. That’s my President!
That degree of separation (Medvedev reading Harvard Law Review president Obama) was so intriguing.
Thank you God for giving us such a wise leader. These times call for greatness and President Obama has been the one to step up and show us the way in this country and around the world. Thank you God for Barack’s leadership.
Amen Sonjia and I so agree with you my friend
A “BFD” indeed…
I started with the Cairo speech. This President knew that a new era of democracy was just about to begin.
They chanted “Yes We Can” In Egypt, In Yemen, In Ireland…and it’s catching on.
As the President reminded other countries, including in his speech to the Parliament, when he said, we can longer afford to stay by the sideline, watching the world the Middle East seeking freedom and democracy.
Under his leadership, we’ve seen leaders as Musharaf step down, Syria and others will follow, and Ghaddafi is on his way out. The world leader have no choice but to follow President Obama’s lead, for the simple fact that, it’s working.
If this example of diplomacy with the Russian leader is any indication of what the President’s goals are…is that, we can leave a better world for our children and grandchildren.
We can’t help but feel at ease and be proud of who we elected and we need him to finish what he started (WE MUST).
Obama/Biden 2012
I hope this gets more coverage because it truly is a BFD. What would really be great is that the Colonel leaves right as the next Muppet announces they are running for President.
The president has been developing the relationship with the Russian PM for quite some time. In an interview last year,
DM corrected George and said that he and the president had spoken 16 times, or something like that. The respect that PBO gives to other elected officials, understanding that they have a point of view and their own national concerns, and that the world is NOT all about us, all of these things for which he was derided in the press and by the ignorant, arrogant politicians, is paying off once again. This is HUGE, a BFD indeed.
This is a man to be feared because he understands that there is more than one way to approach a problem. Anyone who knows anything about his life, must know that he is a fierce competitor who is in it to win it. It is incredible that they can be deceived simply because he does not shout and thump his chest.
good afternoon;evening and night TOD family.My back is acting up so I’ll go for a quick walk to see if it will loosen up a tad;then head to the chiropractor for acupuncture 😀
May GOD bless;guide and protect the President and you ALL
Take care, Fred.
Hope you have a good walk and visit to the chiropractor Fred. I wish the same blessings for you.
In the glorious words of Fred: “Frack!” This really is a big fracking deal! Crap! Why does all the good stuff happen while I’m sleeping? 😕 So happy for us though! This entire administration is a HUGE fracking deal. For the campaign we should have posters that say:
Big Fracking Deal
Obama/ Biden
2012
or
Obama/ Biden
Huge Fracking Deals
Vote 2012
or
Obama/ Biden
Huge Fracken Cajones
Vote 2012
or
Obama/Biden
We Get Shit Done
Vote 2012
😆 😆 😆 😆
I think I like the last one best 😆 😉
Awesome accomplishment, Prez O! :P: 😆 You keep going, and we will keep checking off your accomplishments. I’m not a history scholar(an ignoramus, reallly), but I’d be willing to bet that this is the best 2 1/2 year record of accomplishments for any president, and it ain’t over yet! Everything you have done speaks to your determination to leave a better world for our children/your daughters. Some of us get it, even from overseas, and we are praying (and working hard) that more and more Americans will get it by 2012. OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
THE PRESIDENT IS AWESOME…HE’S ALSO QUITE THE VISIONARY…NOONE GETS BY HIM…NOONE!
And just imagine, he did not even have to look into his eyes and see his soul to develop a partnership based on mutual respect.
Every day PBO is laying the smack down on all those that doubt him by being the global leader and honest broker that the world used to expect from our president.
This has to just chap the repubs/baggers
Yes, it is the best 2 1/2 years a president has had. I think Chipsticks posted the article from an American historian listing 244 accomplishments so far…so many of them we hear nothing about. A number of them were reversing Bush era policies. This man knows how to work! This historian said he has had only 30 days’ vacation….so much less than the previous prez, and some journalists tried to say this European trip was a vacation…..how ignorant are they! He has done more to repair the U.S.’s place in the world in 2 1/2 years than I thought could be done.
Anyone who has traveled outside the U.S. knows how low we had fallen with the other guy. Confidence in us was very low. Our President has slowly, carefully and diplomatically rebuilt relationships, and it has worked, as evidenced by the NATO organization he got together to challenge Qadaffy. And now, getting Russia to co-operate and work to rid the world of that tyrant…..will wonders never cease! I’ll love to hear what our dear Joe has to say about this one!
Chipsticks,
Found some footage of President Obama in Poland:
President obama at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
Video Queen!!!!!!!!!!!! Just added them to the post, Donna, as ever you’re a GEM! Thank you.
WOW, he even fell in step with the military guard. So cool, so respectful. Now, watch somebody have something negative to say about that…
BFD is right. Our amazing President does it again!
PBS Newshour was the only news program to lead with the G8 results and the mideast coverage. Other shows talked about Sarah Palin.
I know. It was so disgusting. I had to keep switching channels.
I have alsways liked President Medvedev. I felt that he and President Obama sincerely respected each other. He needs to get out from under Putin. Hopefully this is a turning point for the people of Libia. I am interested in what actons
Russia will take in Libia. I am going to watch that closely. Another point for our President in how the world is responding to his leadership.
I know it’s so unfortunate that Putin is such an idiot that he doesn’t know when to bow out gracefully. What a corrupt power hungry jackass.
Brilliant move from the hardest working man in politics. Another defining moment in US/Russian relationship!