Poland’s President not afraid of Russia

thenews.pl ^ | 16.08.2008

[lizol]

Poland’s President not afraid of Russia

Created: 16.08.2008 10:39

Despite aggressive rhetoric coming out of Moscow, President Lech Kaczynski thinks the West is stronger than Russia and can and must stand up to it.

Russia’s anger with Warsaw for its strong support of Georgia in the war over South Ossetia grew on Thursday evening when the Polish government announced that it had signed a preliminary agreement with Washington to house ten interceptor rockets on its soil as part of the US antimissile shield in Europe.

An American garrison is also to be hosted in northern Poland by 2012.

On Friday morning, a prominent figure in the Russian armed forces appeared to threaten Poland with a nuclear strike: “By deploying [the antimissile shield] Poland is exposing itself to a strike - 100%," said Colonel General Anatoly Nogovitsyn.

President Kaczynski stressed in a television interview, on Friday - Army Day in Poland, a national holiday commemorating Poland’s victory over the Soviet army in 1920 - that Russia is an important country on the international arena, but the times when Russians could decide the fate of others are over.

"The reality is dangerous and we must avert this danger, even by taking risks," the president commented on Poland's involvement in solving the Russian-Georgian conflict.

Lech Kaczynski stressed that the West, including the US, has all the instruments to stop Russia; it is only a question of wanting to use them, according to the head of state. He also said that the European Union has many non-military ways to influence Russia at its disposal. According to him, it is all about convincing Russia that it cannot dictate conditions to democratic and independent countries.

Lech Kaczynski said that the leaders of Poland, Estonia, Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia are trying to convince the US to cooperate in their campaign to support Georgia.

According President Kaczynski, the Russian-Georgian conflict convinced the Polish government to sign the agreement on deploying elements of the US antimissile shield in Poland.

On Friday, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cancelled a visit to Poland after the successful conclusion to the anti-missile shield talks with the US, and Warsaw's support for Georgia.

[lizol]

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[Hazwaste]

I’m positive that Poland is not afraid of Russia, and would be a ferocious opponent. However, the Polish president’s confidence in Europe’s ability to influence the Russians is misplaced I’m afraid.

If Demoncrats control the executive and legislative branches I’m afraid America won’t be much help either.

[Jeff Head]

According President Kaczynski, the Russian-Georgian conflict convinced the Polish government to sign the agreement on deploying elements of the US antimissile shield in Poland.

Well, there it is. Plain and simple and this man is not afriad to say it straight. Russia is already paying a price for their agression and it is going to get steeper...and all they can do is dig themselves a deeper hole by threatening the people who are trying to defend themselves against them.

Lech Kaczynski said that the leaders of Poland, Estonia, Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia are trying to convince the US to cooperate in their campaign to support Georgia.

Couragous men one and all, and they led by example this last week when they flew into the combat zone, while Russia was targeting the Georgian president, and soughtt him out and personally stood with him, daring the Russians to kill them all. From those hours, and with that show of solidarity and courage in the face of the bully, I believe things began to subside.

God bless 'em one and all. They know from experience exactly whats at stake.

...and with the reactions of our own presidential candidates, it surely casts in a new light how critical it is to have a tough leader with experience in these matters in today's world.

CHOOSING THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES




NOBAMA MOVEMENT SPREADS ACROSS THE NATION

[isrul]

I doubt much help would come from the current administration, either.

[Westlander]

[piytar]

GROM says “Bad@##” in ANY language, eh?

[LtKerst]

President Lech Kaczynski thinks the West is stronger than Russia and can and must stand up to it.

I’d like to see these guys stop looking for us to see if we back them, and just stand up to the russians fist, alone and say “live or Die” you A$$HOLE$ will never rule us again.
Then I’d say, “we got your back”

[MarMema]

Lech Kaczynski said that the leaders of Poland, Estonia, Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia are trying to convince the US to cooperate in their campaign to support Georgia.

How sad is this????

[caveat emptor]

GROM and Navy Seals in Iraq.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

I’d like to see these guys stop looking for us to see if we back them, and just stand up to the russians fist, alone and say “live or Die” you A$$HOLE$ will never rule us again. Then I’d say, “we got your back”

You mean like Czechslovakia did in 1968, right? Or like Hungary in 1956, right?

I'm sure they appreciated all the help from us when Russian tanks rolled through their streets.

[Westlander]

[ZULU]

“An American garrison is also to be hosted in northern Poland by 2012.”

2012!!!!!!!!????????????????????????????

It should BE THERE tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!

Didn’ they leart ANYTHING from Georgia?????

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Western Europe depends on Russia for oil. It's sickening, but that's life.

Considering Poland was threatened with nuclear attack; they proved their test of courage -- once again. We would be penny wise and pound foolish to skimp on military equipment/training. Sure, we'd save a little money now. People need to ask themselves what the cost would be if Russia keeps expanding before we do anything. They'll suck Europe's blood like a vampire, grow strong, and then where will we be?

There will only be the pathetic hope that Russia and China might be rivals. If not, the world will be in greater danger than when the Axis Powers were united in WWII.

[WoofDog123]

“I’d like to see these guys stop looking for us to see if we back them, and just stand up to the russians fist, alone and say “live or Die” you A$$HOLE$ will never rule us again.
Then I’d say, “we got your back””

Geopolitics is more complicated that this in any event (not talking to your allies before precipitous action that may start a regional war if it goes bad is simply stupid, when you are a country), but I think he did this when he flew to georgia last week.

The fact poland apparently insisted on a US defense treaty independent of NATO says they know where the europeans are in terms of being trusted to do anything under NATO obligations for Poland.

Off-topic, did the russians control georgian airspace? How did these heads of state get there?

[WoofDog123]

“Considering Poland was threatened with nuclear attack; they proved their test of courage — once again”

This was just some rather aggressive political posturing, though it is only going to inflame the domino-chain of events in eastern europe. Obviously, if Poland places strategic assets like anti-missile stuff in their country, they can assume they are on the nuke target list. Does anyone think the polish leadership didn’t understand this?

What no-one seems to be able to say is that if events reach the point where poland is getting a nuke sent at it, we are already at world war three (or, as said in Wargames, Global Thermonuclear War) and maybe posters should consider the broader picture (unless you live in poland).

Events in russia/eastern europe now are proceeding at an alarming pace. The crimean black sea naval port seems the likely next flash point.

[kristinn]

Ever heard of Solidarnosc?

[Monkey Face]

GOOD for Lech Kaczynski! Someone needs to stand up to the Russian bear; it seems to be rattling the bars of its cage, again.

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

“What no-one seems to be able to say is that if events reach the point where poland is getting a nuke sent at it, we are already at world war three”

I’ve discussed the scenario of Poland being nuked. It would be disastrous for Russia to do it. What would Russia gain by nuking Poland? I’m not trying to diminish Poland’s courage, but it would be incredibly foolish of Russia to carry out such a rash threat.

If Poland had cowered in fear, Russia’s threat would have worked. But since they stand firm and defiant, now Russia is forced with a stupid choice or a slightly embarassed choice.

[Tommyjo]

All it means is that when the site is built the Russians re-target some of their nuclear arsenal at Polish targets. It doesn’t mean that Russia will nuke Warsaw outside of all out total war with NATO.

There was a gentlemans agreement in the 1990s where both sides, and the likes of the UK, stated that they wouldn’t have the coordinates of targets already dialed in. It was probably only words and with a push of a button they could be easily put back in. Poland the minute it joined NATO would have been put on Russia’s potential nuclear target list anyway. All the Russian General is doing is posturing.