US: We won't be building the missile shield in Poland

[saskganesh]

I'd like to see some evidence that the Polands and Georgia are super important, super special, super faithful allies.

They sound more like obligations to me, taken on largely to spite the Russians.

[citizen k]

from bbc news:

POLISH REACTION - ADAM EASTON, WARSAW

The reports did not come as a surprise to anyone in Poland. Indeed the government was concerned the incoming US administration might change its policy when it signed the missile defence agreement with Washington last August.
   
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said his government would not be commenting on the US decision until Washington had made its announcement public. He said he would shortly discuss the issue with the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton. He asked journalists to reserve their judgement because the US decision could be different from what they expected.

However, the news came as a disappointment to the president's circle. President Lech Kaczynski is a keen supporter of the system. The head of the country's national security office, Aleksander Szczyglo, told TVN24 news channel that it would be a "failure in the long-term thinking of the US administration about the situation in this part of Europe".

Former President Lech Walesa told the same channel: "We should reconsider our approach to the US."

In July Walesa signed an open letter along with Vaclav Havel and others warning that the US's credibility in the region could be undermined if it abandoned the missile shield without consulting Warsaw and Prague.

Bartosz Weglarczyk, foreign editor at Gazeta Wyborzca, a leading Polish daily, told the BBC the decision represents the most important shift in US-Polish relations since 1989.

"Nothing will be the same," he said. "I think we will have to look at the US from the European perspective and focus on Europe more now."

[garbon]

Poor Hillary, she has to suffer being taken to task by Poles. A fate worse than losing the presidency.

[Martinus]

Huh? The shield was never intended to defend Europe.

Anyway, as I've said a zillion times, that money would've been better spent in humint, the USCG or customs officials.

Are you being deliberately obtuse or are you being a "useful idiot"? The point of the shield wasn't to defend Poland. Poland's safety, however, would be increased (or at least the perception thereof) by having the US military personnel stationed in Poland, and giving Poland the Patriots that were part of the deal.

[Martinus]

I'd like to see some evidence that the Polands and Georgia are super important, super special, super faithful allies.

They sound more like obligations to me, taken on largely to spite the Russians.

You know putting Poland and Georgia next to each other is pretty ignorant. Poland has the largest economy of all former Soviet bloc countries, excluding Russia; it has the fastest growing economy in the EU; and is the fifth biggest country in the EU.

Poland has also sent significant number of troops to Afghanistan and to Iraq.

I guess Lenin was right when he said Russia will always have "useful idiots" in the West to champion its cause. Were you always like this or is this pot-related brain damage?

[citizen k]

Huh? The shield was never intended to defend Europe.

Anyway, as I've said a zillion times, that money would've been better spent in humint, the USCG or customs officials.

Are you being deliberately obtuse or are you being a "useful idiot"? The point of the shield wasn't to defend Poland. Poland's safety, however, would be increased (or at least the perception thereof) by having the US military personnel stationed in Poland, and giving Poland the Patriots that were part of the deal.

I think the Patriots are still on.

[Martinus]

Huh? The shield was never intended to defend Europe.

Anyway, as I've said a zillion times, that money would've been better spent in humint, the USCG or customs officials.

Are you being deliberately obtuse or are you being a "useful idiot"? The point of the shield wasn't to defend Poland. Poland's safety, however, would be increased (or at least the perception thereof) by having the US military personnel stationed in Poland, and giving Poland the Patriots that were part of the deal.

I think the Patriots are still on.

I think that part of the deal was downgraded significantly by making the arrangement temporary/periodical.

[Ed Anger]

from bbc news:

POLISH REACTION - ADAM EASTON, WARSAW

The reports did not come as a surprise to anyone in Poland. Indeed the government was concerned the incoming US administration might change its policy when it signed the missile defence agreement with Washington last August.
   
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said his government would not be commenting on the US decision until Washington had made its announcement public. He said he would shortly discuss the issue with the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton. He asked journalists to reserve their judgement because the US decision could be different from what they expected.

However, the news came as a disappointment to the president's circle. President Lech Kaczynski is a keen supporter of the system. The head of the country's national security office, Aleksander Szczyglo, told TVN24 news channel that it would be a "failure in the long-term thinking of the US administration about the situation in this part of Europe".

Former President Lech Walesa told the same channel: "We should reconsider our approach to the US."

In July Walesa signed an open letter along with Vaclav Havel and others warning that the US's credibility in the region could be undermined if it abandoned the missile shield without consulting Warsaw and Prague.

Bartosz Weglarczyk, foreign editor at Gazeta Wyborzca, a leading Polish daily, told the BBC the decision represents the most important shift in US-Polish relations since 1989.

"Nothing will be the same," he said. "I think we will have to look at the US from the European perspective and focus on Europe more now."

Fuckers are covered by 2nd and 6th fleet and the sea based system. But our ships don't have screen doors on the bottom.

Polack whiners.

[Razgovory]

I'd like to see some evidence that the Polands and Georgia are super important, super special, super faithful allies.

They sound more like obligations to me, taken on largely to spite the Russians.

Well they do have lots of pornstars from Poland.  Also Georgia has lots of mobsters.

[Razgovory]

I'd like to see some evidence that the Polands and Georgia are super important, super special, super faithful allies.

They sound more like obligations to me, taken on largely to spite the Russians.

You know putting Poland and Georgia next to each other is pretty ignorant. Poland has the largest economy of all former Soviet bloc countries, excluding Russia; it has the fastest growing economy in the EU; and is the fifth biggest country in the EU.

Except East Germany.

[Razgovory]

Really though, only the Poles would feel safer by having someone else place a series strategic nuclear targets in their territory.

[Zanza]

and is the fifth biggest country in the EU.

Did you by chance forget about Spain? 

[Neil]

Poland has the largest economy of all former Soviet bloc countries, excluding Russia; it has the fastest growing economy in the EU; and is the fifth biggest country in the EU.

Does any of that really matter?  They're still small fry.

[Sheilbh]

and is the fifth biggest country in the EU.

Did you by chance forget about Spain? 

Normally everyone remembers Spain and forgets Italy

[Martinus]

and is the fifth biggest country in the EU.

Did you by chance forget about Spain? 

Normally everyone remembers Spain and forgets Italy

Yeah I forgot Italy.