Nov
17
On “Hanging by the balls”
November 17, 2008 | 18 Comments
Putin’s statement to Nicholas Sarkozy, “I’m going to hang Saakashvilli by the balls” is making the rounds in the news. Putin’s crude words, which he is known for, has prompted questions over how much he really detests Saak, and whether this hatred figured in how Russia dealt with the Georgian leader. Whatever Putin said or not, and if he did what it means for Kremlin policy is besides the point. The image of Saakashvilli hanging from his balls wasn’t the only image of humor in Putin and Sarkozy’s exchange.
“I am going to hang Saakashvili by the balls,” Mr Putin declared.
Mr Sarkozy thought he had misheard. “Hang him?” — he asked. “Why not?” Mr Putin replied. “The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein.”
Mr Sarkozy, using the familiar tu, tried to reason with him: “Yes but do you want to end up like [President] Bush?” Mr Putin was briefly lost for words, then said: “Ah — you have scored a point there.”
Even Saak found the incident funny. “I knew about this scene, but not all the details. It’s funny, all the same,” he said on French radio.
Putin’s “hang’em by the balls” quip reminded me of similar statement made by none other than Stalin. In a note attached to V. I. Mezhlauk’s 1930 sketch N. P. Briukhanov (above), Stalin wrote:
To the members of the PB:
For all the sins, past and present, hang Briukhanov by the balls. if the balls hold out, consider him acquitted by trial. If they do not hold, drown him in the river. I. S.
Briukhanov’s balls must have held. In April 1931, he was rehabilitated and appointed Deputy of the People’s Commissariat of Supplies. Unfortunately for him, his oppositionist past caught up with him and he was arrested in 1938. His balls, now eight years older, must not have been able to stand the tension. They snapped. Briukhanov was shot.
Both pictures come from Piggy Foxy and the Sword of the Revolution: Bolshevik Self-Portraits.
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Comments
18 Comments so far
This is one of the dumbest ados about nothing I have ever heard of.
Totally. I just wanted an excuse to share poor Briukhanov hanging by the balls and Stalin’s great statement.
I like the humor
Actually, I thought it was very telling that Sarkozy was supposedly dealing with Putin throughout the Georgia-Russia conflict, and not Medvedev.
I would suggest that if any American President had suggested another leader should be hung up by his balls, it would make front page headlines around the world.
In almost any other country, Putin’s frequent and repeated coarseness of language would be a scandal and would quickly have him swept out of any public office.
In Russia, he’s considered a pussy when compared to Zhirinovsky.
This is one of the dumbest ados about nothing I have ever heard of.
Considering all of the dumb ados about nothing with respect to Russia, that’s quite a statement, Von Doom.
I think the whole lurid tale is pretty funny, not because I think it is true, but because it is believable. Following Mr. Shedd’s comment, is there anything Putin can’t get away with?
Let’s hang Doom by the balls.
Doom’s balls are made of iron. He will suffer no ill effect.
McCain’s balls, on the other hand, were ripped out by Obama by main force and hurled across the room.
“I would suggest that if any American President had suggested another leader should be hung up by his balls, it would make front page headlines around the world. ”
If said other leader had actually attacked and murdered 300+ people and US soldiers, I don’t think it would be a big deal. He might get called an evil-doer (boo! hiss!).
some classics never go out of style…
For all those who think Obama is going to improve relations with Russia and base foreign policy on pragmatism instead of idealogy:
Obama reaches out to Georgian leader Saakashvili
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4AH35420081118
If said other leader had actually attacked and murdered 300+ people and US soldiers, I don’t think it would be a big deal. He might get called an evil-doer (boo! hiss!).
You’re living in your own private Idaho.
Even regarding the trial and hanging of Saddam Hussein, who did far more than kill 300 people and US soldiers, no such vulgar or coarse language would be permitted by a reputable political leader.
“Even regarding the trial and hanging of Saddam Hussein, who did far more than kill 300 people and US soldiers, no such vulgar or coarse language would be permitted by a reputable political leader.”
Saddam never did anything to the United States.
“U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has called Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to assure Moscow’s outspoken foe of Washington’s continued support, the Georgian leader’s press service said Tuesday.”
I suggest you look deeper than statements made by Saakashvili’s press service.
Saddam never did anything to the United States.
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He surely did. When he invaded Iran in the 80s with the US support of course.
By the way, contrary to the convictions of many, I do not believe the US has, will have, or has ever had, a coherent policy toward Georgia; because, contrary to the convictions of many, I do not believe the US the US has, will have, or has ever had a grand plan to contain (post-Soviet, at any rate) Russia.
Saddam never did anything to the United States.
Your analysis is becoming more and more retarded in an attempt to defend an indefensible viewpoint.
I seem to recall an invasion of Kuwait, a U.S. ally, and despite the US great success in Gulf War I, 147 US soldiers died in that conflict.
The US was essentially at a state of war with Iraq for a period of over 10 years, culminating in the current Iraq war effort.
At no time during this period did a US political leader openly suggest that Saddam should be hung by his balls.
I defy you to find a comparable comment by any US president, even in a time of war.
You are completely and totally wrong on this point, and your unwillingness to acknowledge it is simply stubbornness.
Lastly, you need to remind me what Saaskashvili actually did to any Russian citizens and what those casualties were. I’m not talking about those who simply carried Russian passports and are NOT Russian citizens.
I do not believe the US has, will have, or has ever had, a coherent policy toward Georgia
You haven’t really been paying attention.
I do not believe the US has, will have, or has ever had, a coherent policy toward Georgia
You haven’t really been paying attention.
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Does the US has, will have, or has ever had a coherent policy towards Russia, apart from ignoring, marginalizing and boycotting Russia’s President in real life and on popular Russian blogs? I wonder. BTW, I’ve been paying attention.
Does it really matter whether a politician is rude or polite when he goes about his work?
The Japanese have a reputation for utmost politeness – didn’t stop them from raping thousands of Chinese. Germans are also frequently considered to be quite polite, in a kind of stiff way – didn’t stop them from mass-murdering millions.
Stalin was a crude lout, it seems, and he also killed millions.
Would it matter to you whether you are killed by somebody polite or somebody rude?
Interesting