Russia fears influence loss, Poland says

The Washington Times ^ | February 20, 2007

[twinself]

Russian opposition to a U.S. proposal to build a missile defense system in Poland stems from Moscow's hopes to regain influence over its former satellite, Poland's prime minister said today. The comments by Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski came a day after a Russian general warned that Poland and the Czech Republic risk being targeted by Russian missiles if they agree to host U.S. missile defense bases. "To make it clear -- this is not about Russian security; these installations do not in any way threaten Russia," Mr. Kaczynski said on state Radio 1. "It's about the status of Poland, and Russian hopes that the zone -- in other words, Poland -- will once again find itself ... in the Russian sphere of influence. "From the moment the missile bases are installed here, the chances of that happening, for at least decades to come, very much decline," he said. The Soviet Union dominated Poland for 45 years, from the end of World War II until the end of the Cold War in 1989. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of a "new Cold War" in a speech in Germany that shocked Western governments. Mr. Kaczynski and his Czech counterpart, Mirek Topolanek, indicated yesterday that they were ready to work out the conditions under which the United States would put interceptor missiles in Poland and radar in the Czech Republic. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, head of the Russian missile forces, said in Moscow that the U.S. plan could upset strategic stability in the region. "If the governments of Poland and the Czech Republic take such a step ... the [Russian] Strategic Missile Forces will be capable of targeting these facilities if a relevant decision is made," he said.

[twinself]

Ping!

[Bigg Red]

God bless and protect Poland!

[hermgem]

Putin starts building an oil pipeline through the Baltic Sea, bypassing Poland and the Baltic States, to make them dependent on Russia's graces.
That's apparently not enough to again impose Russia's whims upon them and is followed up with threats.
Putin hedges these grand plans of being the centerpiece of Europe, using oil and gas as leverage.
Anything even coming close to association with the U.S. is stamped a threat to Russia.
Both Poland, the Baltic's and Czechs have sufficient leftover memories about "Russian diplomacy" to make them feel ill just thinking about Putin's KGB and a Russia under a manipulating Putin.

[rlmorel]

Yep. We need to make Poland a trusted partner.

They are tough fighters.

Loyal allies.

Hard working.

And they understand the dangers of tyranny.

[SomeoneNeedsToSayIt]

Russia is starting to sound a lot like France.

They so want to be a player and they just are not.

[steel_resolve]

I see Poland very much like an Australia, just not as far along the relationship path as the aussies.

[rlmorel]

Right! And...THANK GOD FOR THE AUSSIES!

We know who our friends are in the world today.

[singletrack]

As long as Russia supports the "peaceful" development of nukes in Iran, and with the fuel needs they withhold from Poland, I wonder how they'd feel about Poland going on line?

[M. Espinola]

Russia has invaded Poland and then enslaved her, plus all the former Soviet Captive Nations. Eastern European countries must have strong defenses against future Russian aggression.

[Bigg Red]

I agree with all of the prais that you gave the Poles. But I hope they have the sense to deal with the sort of moahammedan efforts outlined here:

http://www.islamicpopulation.com/poland_muslim.html

[Bigg Red]

Also, this projection from a 2006 piece that I found does not look good:

Poland's population will decrease from 38.5 million to 32 million by 2050, or by 16.9 percent.

I hope they don't let the mohammedans come to outnumber them.