In Medvedev, Bush Sees ‘a Smart Guy’ - NYTimes.com

In Medvedev, Bush Sees ‘a Smart Guy’ - NYTimes.com: "
“I found him to be a smart guy who understood the issues very well,” Mr. Bush said.

The exchange brought to mind Mr. Bush’s first meeting with Mr. Putin, at Brdo Castle in Slovenia in June 2001, when Mr. Bush famously said he had “looked the man in the eye” and “was able to get a sense of his soul.”

Given Mr. Medvedev’s extraordinarily close relationship with Mr. Putin, who remains Russia’s prime minister, it was only natural for Mr. Bush to face questions about what he saw when he looked at his new Russian counterpart. (No, he did not say he saw Mr. Putin’s soul.)"