Posted on 02/09/2006 3:33:15 PM PST by lizol
Geopolitical Diary: Poland's Kaczynski Visits Washington February 09, 2006 08 00 GMT
Polish President Lech Kaczynski traveled to Washington on Wednesday, where he met briefly with President George W. Bush late in the day and was expected to meet separately with other key advisers. Kaczynski's first official visit to the White House was brief and drew little media attention, but from Warsaw's perspective it comes at a key moment for the region.
Poland's historical alliance with the United States remains strong, but the changing dynamics in Central and Eastern Europe have generated worries in Warsaw and prompted the recently elected Kaczynski to seek opportunities to ingratiate himself with the White House.
Certainly, Poland faces endemic challenges. Situated between Germany and Russia, it trusts neither -- though it is closely allied with Germany through the European Union and NATO. With the new change of government in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is devising policy that will affect Poland and its relationships with both Russia and the United States. Having made it clear that Berlin's ties with Washington take precedence over its previously warm relations with Moscow, Germany is asserting itself as a more pertinent and strategic ally -- edging out Poland as Washington's favorite in the region. Meanwhile, Romania is also showing itself as a reliable partner for the United States, further fueling political rivalries.
(Excerpt) Read more at stratfor.com ...
The gay lefties in Chicago were all up in arms on the radio today over the fact that this President will be meeting with Mayor Daley. They're "demanding" that Daley stand up to him for the President's stand against gay marriage, etc.
Forgive my ingorance, but what is Mayor Daley's political stance?
Poland has the opportunity to balance its relations with Russia and Germany with a sub-alliance between itself and other eastern european countries who find themselves in a similar situation, caught between the EU and Russia and needing a counterbalance.
So Romania's warming relations with the US is not a challenge for Poland, but an opportunity. Likewise Bulgaria's similarly warming relations with the US. Ukraine is a bit of a misfit, but in broad terms they have a very similar situation. Poland can use that similarity of interests to its advantage as it creates a strategic and commercial niche for itself; part of EU, and adjacent to Russia.
Despite tensions between Poland and Russia, Poland has long experience doing business in Russia. This allows it to position itself as a bridge between the EU and Russia. The company I worked for years ago established a presence in Poland at one time with the idea of taking advantage of its experience in doing business in Russia, for example.
Geography is Poland's problem but also its advantage.
I don't agree with this at all.
Over the last few years, Germany has done lasting harm to their reputation in this country.
And while our relations with Germany may improve under the new government, I very much doubt that those warmer relations will do anything to displace or weaken our friendship with Poland.
Mayor Daley is usually strongly aligned with the left-wing in this country, and the left wing thinks they can tell him what to do.
I'm honestly not sure about his political position on gay marriage -- I assume he's in favor. He's in favor of every other part of the so-called gay-rights agenda. (His father would be shocked and stunned at all this.)
Maybe someone who knows more will comment here -- it's been a few years since I've lived in Chicago.
I bet the left wing would also like Mayor Daley to use this meeting to criticize Polish involvement in Iraq -- the left wing in this country is just livid about the liberations of Iraq.
Ukraine is heavely divided on what to do. If Ukraine comes too close to the US, there will be a civil war there.
I'm with you. Poland has proven to be a friend during hard times. New leader or not, Germany has screwed the pooch.
Lol. This point of view is too simple. Poland and Germany are for sure not on a catwalk in Washington. The interest of the US in both countries are completely different.
It is a fact that the most important ally of Germany is not the US but France. The recent political change in Germany will not change this dictum, although things will not be handled that inflexible than under Schroeder. It is also a fact that the most important ally of Poland is the US. Because of its reliability and its dependance it will stay Washington's "favorite in the region." :-)
BTW - in a larger scale Poland has a competitor about Washington's affection it never can deal with: The Brits.
Of course it is silly statement about Polish-Romanian rivalry. In fact our common cooperation with US made our ties even stronger than before. Always more opportunities to our officials to meet each other in discuss join projects.
What kind of dependence?
BTW - in a larger scale Poland has a competitor about Washington's affection it never can deal with: The Brits.
As I wrote above, there is no any competition with Brits or anybody else. IMO Polish-British relation are really undeveloped, I think that Blair has no serious intention to cooperate with us closer.
And I am sad to say that Poland has few friends in the left of the US. They think Poles are the Christian version of the Taleban. If the Democrats take over our government, Poles will not have such a good friend in Washington.
As fas as security is concerned, yes. But as Wirtschaftspartner NEIN. The most important ally of Poland inside EU was and is Germany. So I would seperate strategic alliance with US and "normal", let say every-day alliance between Poland and Germany.
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