Talk about a weak poll.
In any event, it really is only proving my point...namely that Europe as a whole doesn't see sufficient threat to warrant a missile defense system, which would cover all of Europe, while despite Russian invasions and threats, only 53.5-58% of Poles think it's a good idea...and that's its best showing. Your line of argument here assumes that Russia is the true threat, not Iran, in which case the whole ostensible U.S. position is a lie, and one would rightly expect Russia to react with hostility to this plan. Imagine if Russia put a missile shield in place to protect it's western coast and placed the missiles in say...Venezuela, or Cuba. We would be incredulous, as we were in 1962.
Personally I think the risk of a Russian invasion of eastern Europe is nothing more than hysteria. If Russia makes a move in eastern Europe, it will be economic and political, not military, so a missile defense shield will do no good. Poland is not Georgia. It's an E.U. country, and it's nuclear armed fellow E.U. states can and should provide sufficient deterrent.
It's the most recent showing and the most relevant, since it reflects the feeling after a very real, significant event. You found one from over a year ago that included 15 year olds to make your point. I'll take the best showing over the worst one you were able to dig up.
And Old Europe wouldn't see a sufficient threat if it had a ticking timebomb in its lap. And it does.
Your line of argument here assumes that Russia is the true threat, not Iran, in which case the whole ostensible U.S. position is a lie
My argument does no such thing. I didn't dismiss Iran at all. Both threats can be, and are, very real.
one would rightly expect Russia to react with hostility to this plan. Imagine if Russia put a missile shield in place to protect it's western coast and placed the missiles in say...Venezuela, or Cuba. We would be incredulous, as we were in 1962.
This comparison only holds true if the United States had invaded and occupied Cuba and Venezuela (for 40 and 20 years, respectively) under the most repressive, brutal totalitarian reign of terror modern history had ever seen. Since the U.S. has never done anything of the sort, the comparison is frivolous and disingenuous.
But one would rightly expect the Russians to react with hostility... because it is their nature. That's why their old occupied-territories need our missiles to ensure their continuing freedom. Because the bastards haven't changed, and they're still right next door.
Personally I think the risk of a Russian invasion of eastern Europe is nothing more than hysteria. If Russia makes a move in eastern Europe, it will be economic and political, not military, so a missile defense shield will do no good.
"If Russia makes a move, it will be..." -- You say that with such certainty. Do you know something we don't know? Has Russia learned its lesson and committed itself to non-violent Marxist revolution... sort of like Billy Ayers?
Marxists live for carnage and mayhem. Everything they do is a means to that end. There are a number of ways the Reds can achieve their goals in Poland and the Czech Republic (they want them back)... when we abandon the missile shield, they'll be one more.
Poland is not Georgia. It's an E.U. country, and it's nuclear armed fellow E.U. states can and should provide sufficient deterrent.
Maybe they can, maybe they should, but they don't. If the E.U. is the only thing standing between Russia and Poland or the Czechs, the E.U. will politely step aside before confronting the Bear militarily.
No, it isn't. He produced the better evidence. You challenged him, he made his point despite your gainsay. He punked you.