Russian
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made it clear
that
Russia will do everything it can to defeat the
effectiveness
of the American missile shield. He and
and
his successor, Dmitry Medvedev, are putting all
the
pressure they can on Poland and the Czechs
not
to take part in the program.
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
Americans Must
Show More Concern for Polish Security
"One recalls our unconditional
participation in the Iraq War alongside the Americans and in the consequent
stabilization mission. Poland suffered considerable political losses, the
benefits were negligible and moral doubts remain. Any politician who would, after
such experiences, consent to erect the shield in Poland - a rather unpopular
mover among the people - had better have good arguments for it."
Polish Foreign
Minister Radek Sikorski: He and Prime Minister Tusk are playing high-stakes
poker, demanding cash for military modernization and Patriot missile
batteries for Warsaw. He and Tusk say they aren't satisfied that Washington has shown enough concern for
Poland's security.
History - both recent and
distant - weighs on Poland's decision on whether to allow the installation of the
anti-missile shield.
Distant history, when Prime
Minister Tusk talks of reinforcing guarantees of Poland's security in face of
our neighbors' threats in regard to the shield. [Reference to Russia].
Whether these threats are
realistic or not - from the point of view of Polish history it's reasonable to
act with caution.
In terms of more recent
history, one recalls our unconditional participation in the Iraq War and the
consequent stabilization mission alongside the Americans. Poland suffered considerable
political losses, the benefits were negligible and moral doubts remain.
Any politician who would,
after such experiences, consent to erect the shield in Poland - a rather
unpopular move among the people - had better have good arguments for it. To
help an ally is important, but Poles will ask what has been done for the
security of their country.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk: The Polish opposition accuses him
of making a back-door deal with Russia, after he declared the latest U.S.
proposal for missile shield 'unsatisfactory.'
In addition the U.S.
government, which wants a shield to secure America from future attack, should respond
to what extent it's willing to ensure the security of its ally. Fortunately,
American diplomats are beginning to acknowledge this point. In the original
draft agreement drawn up in Washington, there was only a declaration of
Poland’s gratitude in response to the proposal of locating the shield on her
territory.
We still hope to reconcile
the two positions - the best possible security guarantees for Poland and
America. A feeling of security must exist on both sides of the Atlantic.
