Editor's Comment: This is an extraordinary interview with Russian President Vladamir Putin. It is extremely rare to see a head of state open himself to journalists' questions as Putin does in this interview. His answers to questions, particularly those involving Russian-US and Russian-Iranian relations are obviously clothed in political and diplomatic language as one would expect. This can be seen in his generous references to the United States as a democratic country amidst his critiques of US domestic and foreign policies. However, there is a refreshing honesty in President Putin's political speech that evades most western politicians. Given that premise, why US and European politicians lack the character, personal integrity and commitment to the truth are questions that beg.