Putin Chastises U.S. on Democratic Ideals

President Vladimir Putin took a swipe at the United States in his state of the nation address Wednesday, bristling at being lectured by Vice President Dick Cheney and comparing Washington to a wolf who ``eats without listening.''

During an emotional moment in the nationally televised speech, Putin used the fairy-tale motif on the need to build a fortress-like house and to illustrate Russia's need to bolster its defenses. He also suggested that Washington puts its political interests above the democratic ideals it claims to cherish.

`Where is all this pathos about protecting human rights and democracy when it comes to the need to pursue their own interests? Here, it seems, everything is allowed, there are no restrictions whatsoever,'' Putin said, smiling sarcastically in the address to both houses of parliament.

``We are aware what is going on in the world,'' he said. ``Comrade wolf knows whom to eat, he eats without listening, and he's clearly not going to listen to anyone.''

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