Posted on 07/12/2008 1:47:55 PM PDT by lizol
Poland says U.S. shield deal hinges on Patriots
Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:17pm BST
WARSAW/VILNIUS (Reuters) - Poland is insisting on the permanent stationing of a U.S. Patriot battery on its soil as a condition for hosting part of a anti-missile defence shield, its defence minister was quoted as saying on Friday.
Washington wants to install 10 interceptor missiles in Poland, a NATO ally, as part of the shield project, which aims to protect the United States and its allies from attack by so-called "rogue states" and terrorist groups.
In return, Warsaw wants hefty U.S. investments to upgrade its air defences. Last week, Prime Minister Donald Tusk rejected as insufficient a U.S. offer to base a Patriot battery on Polish soil for just one year, but the negotiations are continuing.
The Patriot is a long-range, high-altitude, all-weather system designed to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft.
"We want this (Patriot) battery to be placed on our territory permanently," Defence Minister Bogdan Klich told the Dziennik daily in an interview.
"Patriots are the main condition (for an agreement on the shield). We are still waiting for the results of talks (with the United States) on modernisation of our armed forces."
Klich repeated the Polish view that hosting the interceptors would increase the security risks for his country, hence the need for increased U.S. security guarantees.
"Just having the installations on our soil does not strengthen our security ... Poland can become a target for attack," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at uk.reuters.com ...
Not a difficult call, do it!
Presence of the Interceptors makes Poland a target. Basing Patriots there is an obvious measure. They should remain as long as the Interceptors remain.
And, from the other thread, yes, the US should be working with the Polish military to further integrate them into our defense web. We don’t have that many friends. We need to build up the ones we’ve got.
As part of the Second Cold War, we should use it as a basis for a NATO wide NMD system.
Correct. And the Rooskies have said as much.
I’d be happy to offer one better: all the troops in Germany now could be restationed to Poland. I’d rather have that American cash going to someone more friendly.
It would be silly not to surround them with Patriots AND a squadron of F-22’s.
Hilarious. As part of the deal they want SAMs that actually work and against a close-by real threat, Russia.
I say let them have Belicheat.
“Poland is insisting on the permanent stationing of a U.S. Patriot battery on its soil”
One (!) American owned battery... This must be a damn joke...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.