More G-8 highlights..Bush shows some spine, Putin continues to show his true colors

Just when you're thinking that maybe Dubbya can be written off, he surprises you. And that's a good thing.

Reacting to Putin's failure to cooperate with the West in reining in the rogue states of North Korea and Iran and in curbing the growing despotism in Russia, President Bush blocked Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization today.

Good.

There was a quick handshake but most sources reported little warmth between Bush and Putin during a photo opportunity at the opening their talks. For the second day, Bush spent part of it mountain biking.

Another point of disagreement was the current war in the Middle East between Israel and Iran's proxy Hezbollah.

Like the EU and the UN, Putin is critical of Israel's defending itself against attacks on its territory and said the violence "should stop as soon as possible."

Bush, on the other hand, like Canada and Australia placed the blame squarely where it belongs...on Hezbollah and its owners and enablers, Iran and Syria. Bush held Israel blameless for its punishing attacks in Lebanon and said it was up to the militant group Hezbollah to lay down its arms. Just like the UN resolution said they were supposed to, months ago.

"`I talked about my desire to promote institutional change in parts of the world like Iraq where there's a free press and free religion," Bush said at the news conference, "and I told him that a lot of people in our country would hope that Russia would do the same thing."

Putin, visibly upset, said: "We certainly would not want to have the same kind of democracy as they have in Iraq, I will tell you quite honestly."

Perhaps if Russia hadn't concluded the equivalent of a Comintern Pact with the Nazis in Iran, the mullahs might be a little more cautious about unleashing Shia militias like the Badr Force and the Mahdi Army to undermine our efforts there, Vlad. But you knew that right?

Putin also said Russia would not take part "in any crusades, in any holy alliances" -a remark that some reporters saw as intended to win points with Iran and Syria. Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said he was perplexed by the comment.

He shouldn't have been.

Putin is simply informing Bush and the West publicly that he is standing with Iran, Syria and the Jihadis against the West...something, members of Joshua's Army who read the site rgularly have been aware of for a long time now.

Now that this is out in the open, it remains to be seen what Bush plans to do about it.