Posted on 03/19/2015 6:14:57 PM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans
KALISZ, Poland — For evidence of how much President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has jangled nerves and provoked anxiety across Eastern Europe, look no farther than the drill held the other day by the Shooters Association.
The paramilitary group, like more than 100 others in Poland, has experienced a sharp spike in membership since Mr. Putin’s forces began meddling in neighboring Ukraine last year.
Thirty students took an oath to defend Poland at all costs, joining nearly 200 other regional members of the association — young men and women, boys and girls — marching in formation around the perimeter of the dusty high school courtyard here. They crossed Polish Army Boulevard and marched into the center of town, sprawling in four long lines along the edge of St. Joseph’s Square.
Gen. Boguslaw Pacek, an adviser to the Polish defense minister and the government’s chief liaison with these paramilitary groups, marched with them. He has been making the rounds in recent months of such gatherings: student chapters like this one, as well as groups of veterans, even battle re-enactors.
One of those who took the oath in Kalisz was Bartosz Walesiak, 16, who said he had been interested in the military since playing with toy soldiers as a little boy, but had been motivated to join the Shooters Association after Russia moved into Crimea.
“I think that Putin will want more,” he said.
“Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia are already getting ready for such a scenario, so Poland must do the same.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
“A recent poll indicated that only 27% of the adult population in Poland would fight for their country if it were invaded...which helps explain why the Polish military is busy recruiting children into their ranks.”
Spoken like a true Fifth Columnist propagandist and spy for the Russian aggressors.
Let’s see... European/Asian power gobbling up more and more neighbors in an effort to build a new empire or Reich with Poland next on the list....
Somehow I’ve heard this lesson from history before................
I hope the Poles stay strong. At least until there can be a leader in America who is trustworthy.
The Russians better be careful.
The Poles have lost a lot to the Russians in the last 76 years—and it’s time for payback.
Remember, it was the Poles under King Jan Sobieski who saved Vienna from the Muslim siege in 1673, and sent them back to Turkey.
That siege is where the croissant came from—meaning “crescent” in French—so you could “eat” the enemy, whose crescent was on their flags.
If they squared off right now, the Poles would put a serious thumping on the Russians. They couldn’t hold out forever but they would bleed them very very deeply for certain.
“If only 1 in 4 Polish adults are willing to actively resist an invasion of their own country...why on earth should Americans (or anyone else) fight and die there defending them?”
Except for two or three rebellions in ghettoes and death camps, Jews were almost entirely unwilling or unable to resist the Nazis. I say it was still worth fighting the Nazis even if the Jews didn’t, wouldn’t or couldn’t. Evil should be resisted. Besides, we need not fight. If we merely supply the Poles with what they need, that would probably be enough. I think people are making a huge mistake discounting the Germans. If Poland is invaded, German troops will be fighting on the side of the Poles.
Wow. Young students joining para military organization anf handling assalt riffles. Did the NYT not see all those evil black guns.
My question is when will a U.S. state governor, knowing the president will pull the guard in any state showdown, start their own real state defense force. It needs to occur.
Poland has very bad geography.
Therefore, discretion on their part is most important.
“Therefore, discretion on their part is most important.”
Discretion has done nothing to save Poland from invasion and occupation in the past, so the Poles have no incentive whatsoever to attempt to rely on Russian discretion in the future.
Take the Swiss approach. Allow the people to be armed, and to keep their arms at home. 27% of the Polish people would still be about 10 million people, which would be more riflemen than the whole Russian army.
But be sure to not keep any records of privately purchased weapons, which invaders would use for confiscation.
No, they certainly do not.
They also have zero reason to fantasize about support from across the Oder.
“They also have zero reason to fantasize about support from across the Oder.”
Support roughly equivalent to the Russian threat is already “across the Oder”, with the exception of nuclear weaponry.
Yep...Putin knows his window of opportunity is slowly closing.
“Ohh for crying out loud. Putin has been spending a year trying to capture a sliver of land. At this rate it would take 2000 years to take Poland.”
People who live in Poland and who have experienced actual history; evidently see things differently.
When Germany stops selling German tanks to Poland I’ll believe Germany doesn’t care about Poland. http://20committee.com/2014/10/30/poland-prepares-for-russian-invasion/
[4 days ago] US, Germany Vow New Sanctions if Moscow Fails to Honor Ukraine Cease-Fire: http://www.voanews.com/content/putin-says-russia-prepared-raising-nuclear-readiness-over-crimea/2680992.html
Oh, I know it. I'm sure there are 30 year olds at the Werderscher Markt who would trade the Donbass and Odessa for Königsberg and Breslau in a heartbeat.
If Russia invades Poland all Poles except a few Russkie moles like you will be fighting the Russian invaders, as will NATO.
Why should anyone fight to stop Russians from taking over the whole whole eh Ivan? We see what you are selling Ivan.
Indeed, Switzerland would be a wonderful role model for whats left of the Ukraine.
In fact, all of eastern Europe would be well advised to adopt a more independent and neutral stance in the world.
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