Zhirinovsky says West shows weakness to Love Bug By Elizabeth Piper
MOSCOW, May 5 (Reuters) - Flamboyant Russian nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovksy poked fun on Friday at the Love Bug computer virus which has crippled computer systems around the world, calling it yet another example of the West's weakness.
The Love Bug, a virus carried in an e-mail attachment saying ``ILOVEYOU,'' has wrought havoc with more than a million computers and cost over $1 billion worldwide.
``A virus appears on computers in the West with a short phrase 'I Love You'. That can be decoded as 'From Russia With Love','' Zhirinovsky told reporters, referring to a film in the James Bond series.
Zhirinovsky, who heads what he calls the ``patriotic'' Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), said Moscow had paid too much heed to the West.
The bug, he said, clearly showed that Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin would do better to turn his attention to countries such as Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.
``The West's hot passionate kisses are just false. Even women understand that when a man kisses her passionately from head to toe he's actually her enemy, I mean it's love only for a few hours,'' said Zhirinovsky, who has written a book on sex.
Zhirinovksy criticised lenders like the International Monetary Fund for making a $1 billion Russian credit for this year subject to conditions. He said leaders in Iran and Iraq had told him they were willing to pay large parts of Russian debts in return for increased trade and economic cooperation.
``Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan, they want our goods, and will give us their goods, and give us their money...and we will see excellent economic development,'' Zhirinovsky said.
Zhirinovsky, who has regularly backed Kremlin initiatives despite rambling, often frenetic speeches against various leaders, said Russia was entering a new epoch under Putin.
``It is the birth of Russia's power,'' he said of Putin, who is to be inaugurated at the weekend. ``Patriotic power.''