>> i think that the united states can do business with this man. >> what i have seen of him so far indicates to me that he's capable of being a very strong and effective and straightforward leader. >> president clinton was the first american leader to see a potential partner in putin, but he was far from the last. >> i looked the man in the eye, i found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. i was able to get a sense of his soul. >> amid warnings from the likes of senator john mccain and gary cass for rof that putin could not be trusted president bush pushed in for a new beginning with putin, despite the 2004 poisoning of victor u shank co who survived the poisoning. despite the 2006 death by radiation poisoning of alexander lit have a naing co.