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Post by JustJohn or JJ on May 29, 2017 6:53:15 GMT -7
Polish PM on Manchester Attack: ‘Europe, Rise from Your Knees or You’ll Be Crying over Your Children Every Day
26 May 20171,732 The prime minister of Poland has launched a blistering attack on the “political elites” of Europe in the wake of the Manchester terror attack, warning the continent must put in place “strong politicians” willing to tackle the threat or risk “crying over your children”. Speaking in the Polish Parliament on Wednesday, Beata Szydło seized the moment to launch an excoriating attack on European Union leaders following the Manchester attack which, among others, claimed the lives of a Polish couple, leaving their two daughters as orphans. “We are not going to take part in the madness of the Brussels elite,” she railed. “We want to help people, not the political elites. “Where are you headed Europe?” she demanded. “Rise from your knees and from your lethargy or you will be crying over your children every day. “If you can’t see this – if you can’t see that terrorism currently has the potential to hurt every country in Europe, and you think that Poland should not defend itself, you are going hand in hand with those who point this weapon against Europe, against all of us. “It needs to be said clearly and directly: This is an attack on Europe, on our culture, on our traditions.” Addressing the people of Europe, she asked: “Do we want politicians who claim we have to get used to the attacks, and who describe terrorist attacks as incidents, or do we want strong politicians who can see the danger and can fight against it efficiently?” Szydło’s Government is currently locked in a battle with Brussels over Commission plans for every member state who is signed up to the Common European Asylum System to take in a quota of migrants from Greece and Italy as a solidarity measure. The previous Polish Government agreed in 2015 to take in 4,500-5,000 migrants, the commitment increased by the EU to 6,200, but Szydło’s administration reversed that decision upon taking power and has promised instead to give aid to people in refugee camps in the Middle East. Brussels has responded by issuing threats of sanctions if no migrants are taken by June. The same threat has been made to Hungary, which also has yet to take any migrants in under the quota system. Although the Commission has not made clear what sanctions would be applied, politicians in other member states have called for Poland and Hungary to have their EU funding withheld until they participate in the programme. But Poland’s Interior Minister Mariusz Błaszczak is defiant, insisting that taking the migrants would be “much worse” than any sanctions the EU could lay down. “We mustn’t forget the terror attacks that have taken place in Western Europe, and how — in the bigger EU countries — these are unfortunately now a fact of life,” he said earlier this month. twitter.com/_/status/867488203435118593
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Post by karl on May 29, 2017 7:55:26 GMT -7
Interesting, this out burst from Polish PM Beata Szydlo with such a term of," Rise From Your Knees". For this is as it appears, a red herring to divert attention from the past fact of The Polish Government refusing to take in their share of immigrants in the time of need of the Western States. But yet, the Western states applied a great deal of resources with military back up to meet the recent Polish fear of the Russians.
What this amounts to is: The Polish Government enjoys the riches of their EU membership, but not abiding to responsibility of EU membership directed from Brussels.
So now, what is next? Do we toss rocks at their glass house? Or should we as Europeans, wait until after the coming elections to then ostracize Poland for her bad behavour, or what?
Karl
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Post by pieter on May 29, 2017 11:42:42 GMT -7
I have to say that though I am Pro-Polish I agree with Karl. The refugee crisis is created by various international factors. Partly by the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, in which the Americans were supported by the British, Polish special forces and others. Part, but not all the problems in Syria stem from that Iraq war and the occupation of Iraq by Western allies and the suport of new Shia rulers.
Shia death squads of the Badr militia murdered Sunni men in ISIS style, tortured Sunni men in detention centers and prisons and killed Sunni Arab leaders from the Sunni minority in Iraq. Sunni rebellion started with old Baath Party cells, rebellious Sunni Arab sheikhs with their clans and tribes, and from Saoudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria Al Qaida infiltrated in Iraq. The Kurds established their own state in Northern Iraq and ethnically cleansed some cities, towns, Urban agglomerations and villages of Shia Muslim Arabs, Sunni Muslim Arabs and Iraqi Turkmens. In American and British occupied Iraq both Al Qaida terrorism and radical shia insurgency grew. Iran became involved and influenced, funded and armed Shia parties, movements and militia (armed groups).
In Syria Russia and Iran are allies of the Syrian branch of the Baath party, which is a completely different party and movement than the Iraqi one. The Allawite dominated Syrian Baarh party of Bashar al-Assad is/ was hostile towards the Sunni dominated Iraqi Baath party of Saddam Hussein.
Back to the subject, Poland thus was involved in the Iraq war and in Afghanistan and thus partly responsible for what is taking place in Syria right now. Setting the burden of the refugee crisis on Germany and Sweden isn't fair.
Being critical of the Western European approach towards the refugee crisis is legitimate, but ignoring international treaties, fact on the ground and the humanitarian crisis is serious, not in the strategic interest of Poland and not wise.
Better is good cooperation, taking your share of refugees and starting good integration programs.
Cheers, Pieter
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Post by pieter on May 29, 2017 11:53:23 GMT -7
I agree with Karl that Poland benefited from European (EU) structural funds for their infrastructure, agricultural sector and certain regions. Germany lobbied for the Polish entrence in the EU in the late nineties and early this century. Many Poles were Pro EU and many Poles still are.
The Polish economical wonder is partly dur to the Balcerowicz shock therapy during the nineties, partly due to the hard work of Poles themselves and partly due to structural and considerate European support.
Karl is right.
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Post by Jaga on May 29, 2017 16:03:33 GMT -7
I agree with Pieter and Karl and I don't agree with Beata Szydlo. She wants to use the terror attack in Manchester to support Polish populistic government agenda of not welcoming any immigrants in Poland. I really don't like this government and I think Poland, Hungary and the US - are getting furter away from the rest of liberal and free Europe.
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Post by pieter on May 29, 2017 16:09:34 GMT -7
And I agree with you Jaga!
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