Posted on 09/15/2006 11:21:13 AM PDT by lizol
„Polish – American Partnership Opportunities and challenges for the 21st Century”
Statement of Polish Minister of National Defense on the conference in CSIS. Washington 13 of September 2006. 2006-09-14 16:56:08
It’s my great pleasure to address you today on the occasion of the Polish Prime Minister’s visit to the US I believe this visit will further contribute to the Partnership between our countries, the Partnership that built on values, shared interests, and the will to act together.
The foundations are strong and solid because they are based on the common perception of the security environment which is today increasingly unpredictable. We face the same evil of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction . Regional conflicts, dictatorship and authoritarian regimes continue to affect our security and our interests. We must engage them actively, appeasement is not an option. Most of those challenges may be overcome only in close cooperation between the US and Europe.
Our Partnership is also built on the assumption that security and stability enlargement of Euro-Atlantic institutions. US political support and practical assistance was instrumental for Poland to join NATO. You promoted this idea to the successful end in 1999 and assisted us in assuming all the responsibilities related to NATO membership.
Today our strategic priorities have not changed NATO remains the cornerstone of Poland’s security and the important platform for Partnership with the US. We need your strong commitment and leadership within the Alliance, which is the best coalition we have ever had. Acting alone is always tempting and sometimes necessary. In most cases however, truly join 1endeavour could bring more enduring effects.
Our Partnership is best proved by action in the time of need. We went to Iraq with you because we felt sympathy for your nation that suffered from the tragedy of September 11.
It has been a highly complex and demanding operation for us in terms of casualties and resources. We’re lost in Iraq 17 people. It was the highest number of casualties in a military operation after the Second World War. Despite significant American assistance this operation consuming our budget for modernization. We are now considering the scope and character of our further involvement taking into account evolving situation in Iraq and other emerging commitments. Even if we withdraw militarily, we will remain committed to the overall stabilization process in Iraq.
Afghanistan is a distant country for us. However we are well aware that without making it stable and prosperous, we will not be able to bring the war with terrorism to a successful end. Besides, we in Poland feel a great deal of sympathy for the Afghan people who with courage and dignity opposed communism at the same time when the Solidarity movement in Poland was being born. That’s why we engage actively in the reconstruction of this country. Already now we are sending soldiers to the Swedish led PRT. In February 2007 we will increase substantially our contribution to ISAF and OEF to more than 1000 troops.
Common approach to the countries on the strategic crossroads is also a great challenge and opportunity for our partnership. Poland is particularly interested in the stabilization of the post-soviet area. We continue to share with those countries our experience and want to cooperate on that more closely with the US. This is particularly the case with Ukraine that needs today the similar strong support from Euro-Atlantic community as we received in the 90s. This support can bring a real difference. It can help to finally solve one of the main geostrategic problems in the whole European history.
In early 2006 Europe was faced with the problem of energy security. It made us aware of the necessity to respond to this challenge collectively. The way Russia uses energy resources in its foreign policy poses a threat not only to the countries directly concerned but also to the whole Euro-Atlantic community. This is why we need joint efforts aimed at strengthening co-operation on this issue both within the framework of the EU and NATO.
In the area of defense the main challenge for Poland today is the military transformation. We hope that partnership with the US will be of particular assistance for us in this process. Close co-operation with the US has already accelerated the fundamental changes in our Armed Forces. In the years to come we want to strengthen it in the area of interoperability and capabilities development. This is best illustrated by our strategic decision to acquire F-16s. As a result of the American military assistance we will also be able to improve airlift capabilities by getting C-130s as well as to built reconnaissance capabilities by obtaining Unmanned Air Vehicles.
We also want to be better integrated with the NATO structures. That is why we have offered to the Alliance ground Surveillance main operational base in Poland. American support for this idea will be great importance for the final decision in this respect and we count on it very much.
Finally, a word on European Security and defense Policy. Poland, as a member of the EU, contributes to development of European capabilities for crisis management. However, we are of the option that this process should be tightly bounded with NATO transformation. We have only one set of forces and they should be ready to act in various international frameworks, would it be NATO, EU or multinational coalitions.
Let me conclude by saying that when I was thinking of what to say today, I got an impression that I should perhaps be making those remarks one day later to be fully confident that the Partnership between the US and Poland may be based on solid capabilities. Because, it is only tomorrow that I will be flying an F16 and testing its usability for modern warfare.
In many ways I think we are finally back to the good state we were in between our two nations back in the 20s and 30s. This time around, I think the Polish leadership is much, much better, no matter what all the globalists and Euro Socialists spew about it. Sadly, also like that past period, I think that the US and UK (forget about other Western countries, they are completely flaccid) are similarly unprepared for certan scenarios that would call upon us to help defend freedom once again in Poland. We need to get the NMD system in ASAP. I'd also recommend a vast return to tactical nuclear weapons ala the early 1960s in West Germany with the forward base being eastern Poland's more remote areas. The area northnortheast of Rzcezow and east of Bialystok is today's Fulda Gap.
Really? and how you explain Lithuania?
Poland has made itself very clear that it is the enemy of Russia. Do you honestly expect Russia to furnish oil to a Polish refinery in Lithuania?
They have signed a contract.
Of course - they can brake the agreement.
Wouldn't be surprised if they did.
Nothing new.
Source please
Do you honestly expect Russia to furnish oil to a Polish refinery in Lithuania?
Russia is obligated by contract with Lithuanian company. Polish firm don’t control refinery yet.
Do you really support economic fascism?
Is that why Poland invaded and occupied Russia for several centuries? I seem to recall they captured Moscow 3 times, and burned it to the ground once.
Get some history book.
Polish troops took Moscow once, for 2 years (1610-1612).
It's always good to learn something new LOL
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