Posted on 05/26/2008 3:38:19 PM PDT by Grzegorz 246
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The United States should grant Poland the same level of aid to modernize its armed forces as it does to other key allies if it wants to site part of its missile defense shield there, Poland's defense minister said on Monday.
Bogdan Klich said Poland was in no rush to clinch a deal with Washington to host 10 U.S. interceptor rockets on its soil.
"We count on the U.S. treating us, in connection with the talks on the anti-missile shield, similar to the way it treats its strategic partners in other parts of the world," Klich said after a meeting of European Union defense ministers.
He told a news conference the U.S. should "earmark for the support of the modernization of the Polish armed forces sums similar to those doled out to, say, Pakistan or Egypt."
He did not give precise figures. The U.S. has granted some $10 billion to Pakistan in defense aid since 2001, although only part of the sum went to armed forces modernization. Egypt will receive some $200 million this year for defense from Washington.
President George W. Bush's administration has said it wants to place the missile interceptors in Poland and a tracking radar in the Czech Republic to guard against possible missile threats from Iran and North Korea.
Bush pledged in March to help modernize the Polish military, but negotiations have since become bogged down. U.S. officials say Polish expectations are inflated and warn Washington could place the missile interceptors elsewhere if the talks fail.
"We are interested in a good effect of the talks, not in their fast pace," said Klich.
The United States holds a presidential election in November and it is unclear if the country will push ahead with the project if a Democratic candidate replaces Bush, a Republican.
Warsaw officials say the Polish public, which is largely skeptical about the U.S.-proposed shield, would not accept a deal that failed to boost Polish defenses in a tangible way. Neighboring Russia strongly opposes the shield.
Poland overthrew communist rule in 1989, escaping from the then Soviet bloc. It joined the NATO military alliance in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.
This has got to stop.
The USA should send an annual bill to every country whose security we guarantee.
We should give no more foreign aid, except for humanitarian catastrophes as they occur.
The same? I say we give them better!
No. Vital and reliable allies whose partnership enhances our power and influence should get our help.
Poland has proven to be a political and military ally and a cultural friend. Poland deserves the best equipment we can export.
I agree with you on countries like Germany. Poland, however is a bit different. I say we arm Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Baltic countries to the teeth with the best we can provide. They may become useful allies in the war against the muslim hordes (again).
Stop selling arms to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc... That’s like handing your knife to someone to slit your own throat with.
Then none should get it. Poland has been an unshakeable ally and true friend. If they don’t deserve US aid then no country does.
We could just setup an armed drilling platform in the Baltic Sea in international waters and just tell everyone to go pound sand.
Anyone who stands with us should benefit from that association, anyone who stands against us should not.
This is ridiculous. We don’t owe Poland a damn thing.
Get out of NATO. Cancel defense projects in Europe. Tell the Poles that if they have trouble with Russia, they can call the French.
Whoa there. You don't know your history do you?
We gave Poland to the Russians in WWII and they still don't hate us. They have been our best allies. You really should educate yourself before making such remarks.
I know history. I know that Poland is free now because the U.S. stood up to the Soviet Union all through the Cold War.
Now the U.S. wants to defend Poland against nuclear missile attack, and they kindly agree to let us do it, provided we give them $10 billion a year. Screw that. They can provide their own defense if they want one.
Yeah, and Poland was a part of communist empire because the U.S. betrayed us in Jalta.
Now the U.S. wants to defend Poland against nuclear missile attack, and they kindly agree to let us do it, provided we give them $10 billion a year. Screw that. They can provide their own defense if they want one.
Defend US? The shield is to defend YOU! We are going to do you a favour risking conflicts with Russia, but apparently no one in USA cares about that.
There were Russian troops in Poland. There were no American troops there. In any case, what happened 60 years ago is no basis for an alliance today.
Defend US? The shield is to defend YOU! We are going to do you a favour risking conflicts with Russia, but apparently no one in USA cares about that.
Iran does not have missiles that can strike the U.S. Russian missiles that can hit America fly over the North Pole, not over Europe. The interceptors in Poland are there to defend Europe, not the U.S.
The U.S. is not a European country. The defense of Europe is not our problem. Alliances are about mutual advantage, not feelings, and Europe offers the U.S. nothing, no advantages. Poland is included in that.
And if you don't want any conflict with Russia, don't resist. Surrender to the Russians, and there will be no conflict.
There were Russian troops, thanks to President Roosevelt.
In any case, what happened 60 years ago is no basis for an alliance today.
OK, than don't write BS like "I know history. I know that Poland is free now because the U.S. stood up to the Soviet Union all through the Cold War."
Iran does not have missiles that can strike the U.S. Russian missiles that can hit America fly over the North Pole, not over Europe. The interceptors in Poland are there to defend Europe, not the U.S. The U.S. is not a European country. The defense of Europe is not our problem. Alliances are about mutual advantage, not feelings, and Europe offers the U.S. nothing, no advantages. Poland is included in that.
(...)According to the United States administration the system is intended to protect against missiles from Iran, although in November 2007 the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate reported that Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program had been halted since fall 2003. It has also been pointed out that Central Europe is way beyond the range of any missile that Iran currently has.(...)
Any comments?
Only that your aggrieved sense of entitlement regarding the United States amply demonstrates why America has no real allies in Europe and should not be there.
“Now the U.S. wants to defend Poland against nuclear missile attack”
Go read a bit about the missile defense.
Aggrieved sense of entitlement? Take a look at your posts no. 10 & 12!
The only reason I was being (a little bit) impolite is because you don't know why your government wants to build the shield in Poland. You also don't realize that Poland isn't as rich as USA - is there any sense in putting strategic point of defence in the country with army which level of armament leaves a lot to be desired?
This is the only reason why Poland asked US for help!
Anyway, I can assure you that America has at least one ally in Europe - I think Poles proved their loyalty many times.
Finally, I would like to ask you to take a look at this thread.
Why would you want to stop ARMS aid? Thje Poles are likely one of three allies we have that would actually use the arms in our aid. We couldn’t better spend our military aid dollars anywhere else on the face of the Earth.
“Why would you want to stop ARMS aid?”
Because we are broke. Stop aid to everyone.
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