Relations of Poland with USA

[leslie]

If the visit of President Lech Kaczynski tomorrow to the US and his meeting with Bush turns out that he is taking Blair's place as the poodle, the anti-missile element planned for Polish soil goes ahead. If Putin is not bluffing, this will mean the start of another East-West Cold War with Poland the cause. What are his motives? Self-status seeking? Apparent power through being a friend of Bush? to make a name for himself as the one who stands up to Putin? Or might it be possible that he has the well-being of Poland and the Poles at heart, in which case we may see different results.
I went through the last Cold War which every day seemed as if it was going to turn into a Hot War - I don't want to go through that again..

Leslie

[bescheid]

Lech Kaczynskie will for sure be in Washington to meet with US President, Bush. As you will notice, Mr. Bush has not gone to Warsaw for this purpose.

Rather then institute a new thread for this same topic, as an experment {not a design to compete with your thread}, the following is the reason. well, perhaps for this year at-least.

If Mr. kaczynski will make this fly, it may mean: New roads for Poland, through lease payments, a step up for new loans to cover infrastrucure over haul, new life blood to pump into the Polish Federal system.

Please consider the following as post response to that of Leslies as additional information.

Of the following, there is no url, just point of origen.


---Azerbaijan No Substitute for Pole And Czech Bases US---

Washington (AFP) July 9 -

Russia's offer of a military base in Azerbaijan is no "substitute" for US plans to install a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, a top State Department official said Monday.

"What we do not accept is that Gabala is a substitute for the plans that we're already pursuing with our Czech and Polish allies," said Stephen Mull, acting Assistant Secretary Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs.

"We believe that those installations are necessary for the security of our interests in Europe," he told reporters in reference to US plans for a radar station in the Czech Republic and interceptor rockets in Poland.

"And both of those countries agree; and the entire NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) alliance agrees," Mull added during a joint press conference with Azerbaijan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Araz Azimov.

"And so, we do not believe that the Gabala suggestion replaces that. We're still going to go ahead with the installation on those sites," Mull added.

Moscow and Washington are locked in a standoff over the US plans for a missile shield in Central Europe against possible aggression from rogue nations such as Iran and North Korea.

Russia says the plan threatens its security and has suggested that the United States and NATO use the Gabala radar station in ex-Soviet republic of Azerbaijan, near the Iranian border, instead of having a shield in central Europe.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made the suggestion during his "lobster summit" with President George W. Bush at his family home in Kennebunkport, Maine earlier this month.

Bush called Putin's offer a "very constructive and bold strategic move," but insisted that "the Czech Republic and Poland need to be an integral part of this system."

Russia leases the Gabala installation in Azerbaijan, a former Soviet base used to monitor US military movements around the Indian Ocean region.


Source: Agence France-Presse

Charles