Posted on 08/20/2008 12:02:27 PM PDT by lizol
U.S. obliged to provide security for Poland under missile shield deal - Polish PM Donald Tusk
WARSAW. AUGUST 20. INTERFAX CENTRAL EUROPE -
The United States is obliged to provide security for Poland, as well as for any American facilities in Poland, according to a now signed agreement to place elements of a U.S. missile shield on Polish soil, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, following the signing of the agreement Wednesday morning in Warsaw.
"The U.S. is obliged to provide security to Poland and any American facilities on its territory," Tusk said. "Poland and the U.S. will act together against military and non-military threats caused by third parties and seek to minimize their results.
"The increased cooperation as envisaged in the declaration will improve the security of Poland and the United States," he added.
"Cooperation on missile defense strengthens strategic cooperation, and both parties are convinced this cooperation will bring long-term mutual effects in for their security relationship."
Tusk added that both countries plan to conclude several bilateral agreements to enhance defense and security cooperation between them.
"We have the right to believe that we have together made a breakthrough when it comes to the security of Poland and the U.S.A.," he said. "We've tried to achieve this together, something that is so important for Poles, so that global security also means the security of our territory.
"The presence of a Patriot missile battery that will defend our territory and American facilities is the practical dimension of this agreement," he said.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Polish Foreign Affairs Minister Radoslaw Sikorski signed an agreement, which will see elements of a missile shield placed on Polish soil today in Warsaw at 11:41 local time.
The agreement will also see a Patriot missile battery placed on Polish soil - an element that at one time was a stopping point in negotiations. Poland and the United States have long negotiated whether to place elements of the missile shield in Poland. Russia has vehemently opposed the shield, but negotiations appeared to pick up pace following Russia's incursion into Georgia, which came as a reaction to Georgia's attempt to retake the breakaway region of South Ossetia in early August.
During an early morning press briefing prior to the signing Rice said that the agreement, which includes a U.S. commitment to help modernize the Polish armed forces, shows the tight bond between the two countries. "It will deepen our defense cooperation, will deepen our ability to deal with threats and it confirms what we already know: that Poland is one of our greatest friends and allies," Rice said.
Good Lord, the Russkies are making all of this fuss over ONE battery of Patriot missiles?
How many missiles in a battery? Six, nine, more?
The Patriots are an addition to the previously planned facility, which will house the bigger, badder ballistic missile defense radars, missiles and underground bunker. Given *that* hardware, I didn’t see why the Patriot battery was ever a sticking point.
I suppose the Patriots are more “multi-purpose” and could be used to whack Russian medium-range missiles. If we didn’t want to provoke the Russians with that possibility, that concern is now moot.
bilaterial defense agreement with Poland is a big deal - it means Poland does not have to count on NATO as a whole, which I cannot blame them for. I am sure shades of 1939 influenced this.
NATO has huge issues, not least of which is the energy dependence of some key members on the very country they are allied to fight against.
I know there is agitation for NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia. For georgia at this point would be functionally a declaration of war on Russia, so it won’t happen. WRT Ukraine, I do not have a good enough grasp on domestic politics there - is it possible the next election could be won by a pro-moscow party?
GOOD! Let’s hope that PUtin bit off more than he can chew.
Well I’m getting a little old and fat but, HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL.
Would now be a good time to remind Russia that Poland is in fact a member of NATO?
well i hope we do better than the last time 2 western powers said they would provide security for poland.
I think our military capabilities are a bit better than those of France and Britain after Russia and Germany carved up Poland to start WW2 in Europe. I think Russia knows this and is trying to win the pot by bluffing on a weak hand. I also think the Europeans better be stockpiling as much oil and gas as they can before winter hits, because if this keeps going on into the winter, Russia WILL cut off the energy supplies to Europe.
Guess the Russians never saw this tar baby to happen so soon. :>
I’m a supporter of Eastern Europe, but not big on this security umbrella idea.
One of the problems we have with Europe in general is its unwillingness to provide the funds and manpower for its own defense — because they think they can leave it to us.
Europe needs to take more responsibility for its own defense. If Poland gets attacked, it should be the Polish army on the front lines first before any American sheds blood or dollars.
Every country’s first priority is to its own defense. We’re expanding a gigantic moral hazard here where Europe has less incentive to provide for its own defense, thinking we’ll bail them out.
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