I don’t remember Poland stonewalling on this. The Dems and others (including Putin) raised a fuss, but I think Poland was constantly asking for the missiles. I know Poland was more vocal after Russia invaded Georgia, but I don’t think Poland ever tried to slow the process...did I miss something?
This joke that someone elected doesn’t have the balls that George W Bush has had and still has.
Stey with it, Poland, and make some noise about any attempt to shut down the missile shield.
Gee whiz!
I’ve been following this issue for a while. A Washington Times columnist summarized it this way:
Poland, whom we have lately undertaken to defend from a revanchist Russia, was shaking down Uncle Sam for hundreds of millions in military aid before it would agree to let us put a missile defense on Polish soil, a missile defense designed to protect Poland as well as the U.S.
“The United States is headed for tough negotiations with Poland over a planned missile defense shield,” said the story, “with Warsaw now demanding that Washington pour hundreds of millions of dollars into improving its defense capabilities.”
The tough Polish attitude was attributed to new Prime Minister Donald Tusk who “raised serious questions about the cost and benefits from the missile system for his country.”
Not so long ago, a U.S. president would have told Tusk that we Americans do not cotton to extortion. If Warsaw will not welcome a U.S. missile defense on its soil, fine. Warsaw can defend itself. Must we now pay Europe for the privilege of defending Europe?
What made Poland’s demand especially galling was that the United States had already provided Warsaw with $750 million in military aid. Yet in early March, Tusk was in the Oval Office, seated beside President Bush, radiating victory. “We came to the conclusion,” Tusk purred, “that the missile defense system and the modernization of the Polish forces ... come in one package.”