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2008-02-01 Europe

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Posted by gorb 2008-02-01 14:18|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top

#1 Gorb,
With respect, I think you may be a little hard on the Poles here. They still sit far closer to the ~~Soviets~~ Russians than we do, and he's got an anti-American consituency just like everybody else does. He's taking a genuine risk - given the way the USSR seems to be coming back, do you think it's out of the question that 'patriotic Poles' (supported by Russian money) could start raising hell? I don't think there was ever any real question that the Poles were going to say yes, if only to poke it to Pootie. Sikorski just made sure that it was going to be worth their while.

Mike Kozlowski

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2008-02-01 16:15|| 2008-02-01 16:15|| Front Page Top

#2 A few Patriot batteries is nothing. I would rather have seen an offer to move US forces from German training areas to the huge abandoned Soviet bases.

Posted by ed 2008-02-01 16:28|| 2008-02-01 16:28|| Front Page Top

#3 Just feedin' it back, Mike. Their words weren't so nice when they grabbed the reigns, then they do this about-face thing while trying not to make it look like an about face. I'm tired of the US taking these kinds of hits for political purposes. I wish they'd just pick the right side and stop hedging their bets. That kind of politics starts world wars.

This seems like a no-brainer to me. Does Poland really worry about Russia? Even if Poland rejected the missile shield Pootie would find another excuse to build military power. And if some kind of war starts, Poland will have to pick sides then. And it doesn't make sense to side with Russia, or smooth the path for them to go to war in the first place. They'll either fight for Russia and get the $hit kicked out of them and lose, or side for the US and maybe get the $hit kicked out of them from the other side, but eventually come out on the winning side.

You can tell I don't have much respect for politics based in fear. I know there are times it is necessary, but this just doesn't seem necessary in this situation by any means. It seems more corrupt.

Posted by gorb 2008-02-01 16:38|| 2008-02-01 16:38|| Front Page Top

#4 I wish they'd just pick the right side and stop hedging their bets.

I think that's what just happened. Besides, since Poland gave us Thaddeus Koziusco, Lech Walesa, the Warsaw Uprising, and the guys that first broke the Enigma code, I figure we owe them some slack at least.

Posted by Mike 2008-02-01 16:56|| 2008-02-01 16:56|| Front Page Top

#5 Pfff. They picked the "right" side to ally with in WWII, and what did it get them? France and England declared war on Germany, then sat and did nothing behind the Maginot line while Germany ravaged Poland with help from Russia. They got royally screwed, and it's a big leap of faith to ally with an even more distant partner.

Posted by gromky 2008-02-01 17:26|| 2008-02-01 17:26|| Front Page Top

#6 I'm with Mike - now we have to back it up - relocate bases to Poland if they agree

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-02-01 17:35|| 2008-02-01 17:35|| Front Page Top

#7 Thank you, Poland.

Posted by Seafarious 2008-02-01 18:09|| 2008-02-01 18:09|| Front Page Top

#8 Does Poland really worry about Russia?

They all do, gorb. There's an awful lot of history there, much of it under dung-caked Russian boots, and Vladimir Putin doesn't sound terribly different than the Tsars did in their many imperial moments. Look at the games Russia has been playing recently in their near-abroad, even as far as Latvia.

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2008-02-01 19:38|| 2008-02-01 19:38|| Front Page Top

#9 Who are we defending with this deployment of resources? If it isn't the US, the Aussies or GB (and GB better be paying) then who? Europe? Screw em. Everyone else? Screw em too. The US takes WAAAAY too much responsibility in defending these ingrates. How about Europe defends itself or actually support the US in the middle east?

Some one explain please.

Posted by jds 2008-02-01 21:50|| 2008-02-01 21:50|| Front Page Top

#10 It does rather make Iran's future toys useless, jds. Which means we don't have to listen to Europe going on when Iran tries to threaten them, and takes away an excuse for the EU to betray Israel. Besides, the Eastern European countries really have been standing up with us on Iraq, defying their putative EU masters.

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2008-02-01 21:57|| 2008-02-01 21:57|| Front Page Top

#11 I really couldn't blame Poland for not jumping on the option. If the dhimocrats took power and scrapped the program, where would they be? Between a angry Russia and a anti-american western Europe. Not a great choice.

As much as I love the US, I'll be the first one to admit it makes a shitty ally as the political nature and will changes every 4-8 years.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-02-01 22:10|| 2008-02-01 22:10|| Front Page Top

#12 I'm with Mike, too. I hope you didn't get the idea that I was against Poland. I'm against the appearances of distrust/agression that were being made against the US. I don't like waffling when waffling won't buy you anything. It's amateurish. The choice the governnent has is terrible on one side and uncertain on the other. I'd go for the uncertain without beating up on it like they were.

And yes, I hope the agreement does both sides good. Sadly, Poland has no options but to be the middle of the fray and everyone knows it. Including Pootie.

Posted by gorb 2008-02-01 22:50|| 2008-02-01 22:50|| Front Page Top

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