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Post by hollister on Feb 1, 2008 12:07:09 GMT -7
Poland Says It Has Agreed to US Shield
Feb 1 02:04 PM US/Eastern
By DESMOND BUTLER
Associated Press Writer
Write a Comment
WASHINGTON (AP) - Poland's foreign minister said Friday his country has reached an agreement in principle with the United States on plans to install a U.S. missile defense system in Polish territory.
Radek Sikorski said that after his meetings with officials here, he is satisfied that, as part of the eventual deal, the United States will deal with security problems that Poland has raised.
Sikorski did not outline the terms of the deal, but in a joint appearance with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after a working lunch, the two officials suggested that the U.S. would help with Polish air defenses, as Poland had sought.
Sikorski said that negotiators would continue to work on the details of an agreement that would allow the U.S. to install 10 interceptors as part of a long-range European missile defense system. He sought to address likely Russian concern about the U.S. air defense aid.
"The reinforced Polish air defenses are not directed against anybody," Sikorski said. "They are to enable Poland to be a stronger NATO ally with the United States, to enable Poland to take part in operations, in out-of-area operations, in joint operations."
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Pawian
European
Have you seen my frog?
Posts: 3,266
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Post by Pawian on Feb 1, 2008 15:59:54 GMT -7
So, we`ll have both the shield and Patriots?!
Wow!
I like new hi-tech stuff!!
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Post by hollister on Feb 1, 2008 17:33:06 GMT -7
So, we`ll have both the shield and Patriots?! Yeah, they are digging up Kosciusko ..... |
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Post by valpomike on Feb 1, 2008 17:59:46 GMT -7
To all,
I think this is great news for all. No one will be hurt by it. All gain.
Michael Dabrowski
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joyce
Full Pole
Posts: 394
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Post by joyce on Feb 1, 2008 18:46:56 GMT -7
Pardon me for thinking this way...(opening a can of worms)
but what can Poland offer the United States?
Please don't take this wrong-but some where, some time down the road,
the US will probably ask for favors from Poland.
I just wonder what it will cost Poland?
Whose interests is the United States trying to protect? Poland's?
Or their own-being one step closer to Russia?
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Pawian
European
Have you seen my frog?
Posts: 3,266
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Post by Pawian on Feb 2, 2008 1:18:16 GMT -7
So, we`ll have both the shield and Patriots?! Yeah, they are digging up Kosciusko ..... Give Pulaski and Pola Negri back too!!! |
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Pawian
European
Have you seen my frog?
Posts: 3,266
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Post by Pawian on Feb 2, 2008 1:27:02 GMT -7
Pardon me for thinking this way...(opening a can of worms) but what can Poland offer the United States? Please don't take this wrong-but some where, some time down the road, the US will probably ask for favors from Poland. I just wonder what it will cost Poland? Whose interests is the United States trying to protect? Poland's? Or their own-being one step closer to Russia? Support which Poland offered to the USA when it invaded Iraq cost us a lot. Europe was generally against and Poland was heavily criticised by Western European countries. Then they started calling Poland an American Troyan horse in Europe. All in all, I think the Polish participation in the invasion of Iraq caused a lot of suspicion and ferment which was harmful for us. Poland didn`t have to send her scant contingent but she did and Americans could say that they commanded a coalition of liberation forces instead of Anglo-American occupation army in Iraq. It was Bush who proclaimed it proudly at a conference, I remember it like today. 2003 invasion of Iraq
Four countries participated with troops during the initial invasion (termed the Major Combat Operations phase), which lasted from March 19 to May 1. These were the United States (250,000), United Kingdom (45,000), Australia (2,000), and Poland (194).
* Flag of the United States United States: 250,000 invasion—158,000 current (1/08)
* Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom: 45,000 invasion—4,500 current (12/07)
* Flag of Poland Poland: 194 invasion—2,500 peak—900 current (2/07)
* Flag of Australia Australia: 2,000 invasion—~900 current (11/07)
TOTAL INVASION DEPLOYMENT
* ~297,000 troops
That`s what Poland offered the USA: a fullfillment of ally`s duty in a dubious matter. Isn`t it worth billions of dollars? Poles are not pondering what else they can offer the USA. It is the opposite : Poles started thinking what else the USA can and should do for Poland. |
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Pawian
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Posts: 3,266
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Post by Pawian on Feb 2, 2008 1:57:35 GMT -7
Poland Says It Has Agreed to US Shield Feb 1 02:04 PM US/Eastern By DESMOND BUTLER Associated Press Writer Write a Comment WASHINGTON (AP) - Poland's foreign minister said Friday his country has reached an agreement in principle with the United States on plans to install a U.S. missile defense system in Polish territory. Radek Sikorski said that after his meetings with officials here, he is satisfied that, as part of the eventual deal, the United States will deal with security problems that Poland has raised. Sikorski did not outline the terms of the deal, but in a joint appearance with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after a working lunch, the two officials suggested that the U.S. would help with Polish air defenses, as Poland had sought. Sikorski said that negotiators would continue to work on the details of an agreement that would allow the U.S. to install 10 interceptors as part of a long-range European missile defense system. He sought to address likely Russian concern about the U.S. air defense aid. "The reinforced Polish air defenses are not directed against anybody," Sikorski said. "They are to enable Poland to be a stronger NATO ally with the United States, to enable Poland to take part in operations, in out-of-area operations, in joint operations." Ooops.... Hmmm... I am reading Polish media and there is a big divergence between them and this optimistic American article. It seems that the American author doesn`t understand what a very important statement means: Poland's foreign minister said Friday his country has reached an agreement in principle with the United States on plans to install a U.S. missile defense system in Polish territory. In principle was used by Polish Foreign Minister as something initial, preliminary. It means that Poland presented her expectations and Americans agreed to hear the presentation of expectations.. That`s all. No real agreement on the shield yet. hahahahahahahahaha |
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nathanael
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: “Die Wahrheit macht frei und ist das Fundament der Einheit (John Paul II)
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Post by nathanael on Feb 2, 2008 9:07:40 GMT -7
The long-range missile defense system will need to be protected with short and middle range missile defensive systems. Every nation on earth has a right to install such systems in the present world. Historically, especially after Joachim von Ribbentrop's August 24, 1939 secret pact to divide Poland "into spheres of Nazi and Soviet influence," Poland has a right to an adequate defense, regardless what the "neighbors" say! If the U.S. invests in the Debrzno project (100 km from Gdañsk) the expected 100 million dollars, it will give a boost to a very depressed local economy. The long-range missile defense shield is expected to have some 200 permanent U.S. military officers. Some say that the Russian underwater Baltic gasoduct's "light-steering cable" might be programmed to interfere with the interceptor rockets system. But these are just unproven hypotheses. The real benefit for Poland seems to be in the acquisition of short and middle range border defenses.
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Post by kaima on Feb 2, 2008 12:48:50 GMT -7
The 100 million dollars is an impressive number, but I will be 80% of that will pe spent in America and on American products, as with most of our foreign aid. The ongoing 'benefit' of having guest soldiers on their land will bring in a steady stream of money as well - a steady stream that in Alaska is supported by the town of Delta Junction, Alaska. We support about 3 x as many missiles with that population. Most of the 'U.S. military officers' are Alaska Guardsmen (militia) to guard the missile base. The skills for operation are hired from private contractors like Boeing. So not much of the money stays locally, though there are maintenance jobs for drug-free locals. Delta has about 4000 people in the area, with the nearest 'big' town is Fairbanks, 170 km away with about 40,000 people in that bigger area. www.city-data.com/zips/99737.html for local statistics www.alaska-highway.org/delta/ for an aerial photo of the town Bringing in the missiles did save them from a bad economy when Fort Greely closed - it is the only 'industry' in the area. This is in the middle of the wilderness, a great place for military things and soldiers. I would rather see 1) the money spent at home in the US, 2) spent on something productive 3) see Poland work up a defense with the EU, not with the US. We are going broke and will be unreliable. Not even depend upon NATO. That isnothing but a tool the US uses when it wishes, much like the UN, and then cusses out as worthless when we don't have a use for it. Better that the EU build a viable force! Holli, with the various interpretation of "agreement in principle" it reminds me of the Pershing missile agreement between Kohl and Reagan. Regan came home to the US and said "Germany has agreed to change out the Pershing I for the Pershing II" and Kohl headed home and told everyone in Germany "Reagan agreed Germany will not accept the Pershing II; we will only accept upgrades to the Pershing I." Even in the protocols I had to work with, it was up to me to negotiate with the German government on a few points where the English version and the German version said very opposite things! Kai |
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Pawian
European
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Post by Pawian on Feb 2, 2008 13:23:28 GMT -7
The news about the "agreement" was there in the morning. Now it`s all gone from Polish news portals. How about American news? Is it still there? I am looking through... Yes, there is still a headline about it on the opening page of Las Vegas Sun! www.lasvegassun.com/news/Unfortunately, the Seattle Times gave it up! seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/It`s unfair! Instead of the shield, they put some stupidities like: Irish politician wants lower taxes on condoms or Bacteria slip from lip to chip to dipI swear I will not read them even if they were the last paper in the world!!! |
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Post by Jaga on Feb 2, 2008 19:55:05 GMT -7
Jerzy,
actually this was one of the bigger news in the Washington Post but of course the regular TV news channels did not mention anything about it since Britney Spears is much more important!
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Pawian
European
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Post by Pawian on Feb 4, 2008 0:32:52 GMT -7
Jerzy, actually this was one of the bigger news in the Washington Post but of course the regular TV news channels did not mention anything about it since Britney Spears is much more important! It is quite understandable and even excusable in case of this spoof news about the shield! |
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nathanael
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: “Die Wahrheit macht frei und ist das Fundament der Einheit (John Paul II)
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Post by nathanael on Feb 8, 2008 2:55:30 GMT -7
We live in an evermore dangerous world. Soon after the news about the shield, the media throughout the world has reported that Iran has successfully developed a middle-range missile capable to carry an atomic warhead. Does this not in some way vindicate the necessity of the shield? I think, it does. Even Russia, which has been defending Iran to the hilt, has now publicly said that "this was not helpful." I can see why: Iran has provided new decisive ammunition to those who have been advocating the shield! Russia can no longer say that "Europe needs not to be concerned about Iran."
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Post by justjohn on Feb 24, 2008 6:29:40 GMT -7
  Polish-American Talks On Missile Shield Close to CollapsePutin Warns Against Missile Siege Of Russia From Patricia Doyle, PhD 2-24-8 MOSCOW (Prensa Latina) -- President of Russia Vladimir Putin warned on Saturday in the Kremlin that Russia will respond accordingly to any attempt to place military infrastructure near its borders. Speaking in a defense meeting, Putin said Moscow will not let itself be dragged into an arms race, but will respond accordingly to attempts to militarize its environment. Previously, he visited Zhukovski, a city in the province of Moscow, turned by a presidential decree into the capital of the national aeronautics industry, to attend the presentation of the Complex of Science and Innovation in Aeronautics. "We need to review the national re-armament program of the Armed Forces and increase the purchase of state-of-the-art air equipment," he said. www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7BD5BC622B-E67B-4069-9474-EEBAB4BF6FBF%7D)&language=EN Polish-American Talks On Bush 'Missile Shield' Close To Collapse Gazeta Wyborcza 2-22-8 Talks on Missile Shield Close to Collapse - Just two weeks before the planned visit of Prime Minister Donald Tusk to Washington, DC, negotiations on the possible deployment of elements of the U.S. missile shield in Poland are on the verge of collapse, sources say. The matter is in deadlock, with negotiators waiting for a political impulse from the highest level. Polish politicians are disappointed with the latest round of talks with the U.S.. Source say Poland canceled the final consultations, planned for Friday, ahead of Tusk's visit to the White House scheduled for March 10. In a recent interview, PM Tusk said Poland would not accept a situation "in which Americans treat us from a business standpoint and we give them treatment based on ideology." Poland expects a military aid package of USD 20 bln from the United States in exchange for the consent for American missile-shield bases on its soil. www.interfax-news.com/5/367758/news.aspx 
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