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To: Grzegorz 246

"...But we don't want them either..."

Guess what...Really??! To tell you the truth - that is no surprise to me. The political price for keeping such installations is much bigger than the economical benefit since you never know, what America is going to do in the future on your own soil. Foreign millitary bases are a loss of sovereignty. Political persons, policys and ideologies can change within a few minutes and the existance of big millitary complexes controlled by a foreign nation can turn into a nightmare. I already said, that most Germans are against the American presence in Ramstein and Spangdahlem, because they do not believe in the current US-policy anymore and refuse all US-actions in the middle east. I am quite sure, that the Americans will leave Germany within the next 10 years, because it will be easy to win future German elections with this issue. Schröder or his successors are going to take this chance no matter what lip-service they give to the Americans.

The Poles would be probably more convinced, if some real American investment into the Polish economy would take place. Although Poland is one of the best places in this world to earn money in the moment, because they have a hungry market and stable conditions, nothing really substantical from America seem to happen. It must be alarming to many conservative Americans that especially the "old" Europeans will make the race. I believe that close economic ties are a much stronger connection between nations than the cheap gift of a few outdated fighters (does Poland get F-22s?), tanks or other crap.

I think the best advise for Poland will be keeping all possibilties open. Like in an old proverb they are like a beautiful girl that has to dance on all marriages without saying "yes" too early. You have to be choosy with your partners and first impressions can lead to disappointment.


22 posted on 02/26/2005 8:06:05 PM PST by Atlantic Bridge (Quis, quid, ubi, quibus auxilius, cur, quomodo, quando?)
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To: Atlantic Bridge
"Political persons, policys and ideologies can change within a few minutes and the existance of big millitary complexes controlled by a foreign nation can turn into a nightmare."

Yes, you are right. I would support some symbolic American military presence in Poland - for example 2-3 logistical bases - not more than 2000 soldiers - it would help them to deploy faster other bigger units If it was ever needed.

We would rather prefer to see American bases for example in Lithuania.


"I believe that close economic ties are a much stronger connection between nations than the cheap gift of a few outdated fighters (does Poland get F-22s?), tanks or other crap."

You mean German military aid ? We have gotten so far 128 tanks, 23 fighters and other equipment from Germany, not much from US.
F-22 ? This is the newest US fighter - one cost about $100 million without weapon etc. They wouldn't give it for free even Israelis.
We bought 48 new F-16's, we got very good financial conditions - long therm loan, which will be repaid mostly in 2012-2018, but it only means that Lockheed Martin has good lobbyists. If not this loan, we would buy French Mirage-2000, or Swedish Grippen - they also offered very good conditions.
23 posted on 02/27/2005 1:33:11 AM PST by Grzegorz 246
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