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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.

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.

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.

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.

Germany is asserting itself as a more pertinent and strategic ally -- edging out Poland as Washington's favorite in the region.

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.