Posted on 10/20/2020 9:40:26 AM PDT by yesthatjallen
It’s been one year since President Trump, in coordination with U.S. Ambassador to Poland Georgette Mosbacher, invited the people of Poland into America’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The program allows Polish citizens to apply to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes without obtaining a U.S. visa, a privilege extended to only a small number of American allies.
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First, it reflects Trump’s relentless focus on the American economy, even and especially in the making of foreign policy. According to the U.S. Travel Association, the spending generated by 23 million VWP travelers amounted to $190 billion in economic activity in 2017, and supported nearly 1 million jobs. The United States is Poland’s top non-European Union (EU) investor and, in 2020, U.S. goods imported by Poland totaled $8.3 billion. Trump would not have brought Poland into the VWP if it did not produce an economic benefit to the American people. The VWP is a recognition of both the strong economic ties between the U.S. and Poland, and the rising contributions of Polish people and business beyond their borders — and Trump is the president who recognized it.
Second, it reflects the increasingly close relationship between Washington and Warsaw under the Trump administration. The VWP is not only about tourism and business — due to the ease of exchange and travel under the VWP, designated countries must meet several requirements related to counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, document security, and border management. Poland’s inclusion in the VWP is therefore a testament to its rising special relationship with the U.S., and its ability to work with America on joint security priorities. Poland had been moving in this direction for some time but it was not formally recognized until the Trump administration and Mosbacher’s ambassadorship.
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(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Poland will turn out to be a far better US ally than 90% of our “allies.”
Poland is a better ally than Oregon.
“Poland is a better ally than Oregon.”
LOL!!! So true!
For your interest.
Next the Czech Republic.
I have mixed feelings about this.
The US inevitably will put strings on their support to Poland, namely that Poland succumb more to the poison Western Culture.
Poland’s culture prizes freedom and independence, which makes America and her principles deeply attractive to most Poles. And yes, there were Poles who fought for America in the Revolution.
I knew a young Polish man in college. Very intelligent and suffered the scorn of a local yokels, an older person, who told a “Polack” joke while in the presence of the Polish guy. I started lighting into the yokel, saying, paraphrasing, “Do you know what kind of history Poland has had?” The yokel became embarrassed and backed off, saying sheepishly, “Yeah, I know.” The Polish guy just smiled. We had more Chinese students there and they were quite xenophobic and aloof.
ETF EPOL...I am betting on it.
Those are principles we used to have.
We still do, even though, as in Poland, the progressive Left has traditional values under assault.
It's ironic that the Hessians (Germans allied with the Brits) were routed.
The Swamp/Deep State will do anything to prevent an alliance with Eastern Europe which is ironic since Russia seems to be their boogie man in Putin.
Poland, Israel, Australia, maybe India are all the allies we need.
In addition to strategic position, Poland today is unusually unified, prosperous, and confident. Those factors and shared history and values make Poland an ideal ally for the US.
Poland gave us great cops later down the road like Det. Stan ‘Wojo’ Wojciehowicz, plus many real ones.
“And yes, there were Poles who fought for America in the Revolution.”
One being Casimir Pulaski, said to be the Father of American Cavalry. Died 1779 at the battle of Savannah.
Then there was Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kosciuszko an excellent military engineer who returned to Poland to lead a rebellion against the Russian occupation of Poland.
And has a bridge named after him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaddeus_Kosciusko_Bridge
Sweet!
I’ve been over that bridge many times in my travels. Never knew the history behind it though.
Also knows as the Dolly parton Bridges
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