Posted on 02/14/2008 1:39:03 PM PST by knighthawk
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland should host parts of the planned U.S. missile shield despite threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin, Polish President Lech Kaczynski said on Thursday.
Poland, the biggest NATO member from the former communist Warsaw Pact, is in talks with the United States on stationing 10 interceptor missiles on its soil as a part of the shield, despite strong opposition from Russia.
In his last annual news conference as president on Thursday, Putin said Moscow could aim its missiles at countries hosting the system. But, when asked whether the threats would affect talks with Washington, Kaczynski said Warsaw should forge on.
"Poland should continue to seek to place parts of the shield on Polish soil. I know this is not very popular but it is crucial in terms of Poland's security," he told reporters.
According to surveys, a majority of Poland's 38 million people oppose hosting the base, fearing it would add tension to already rocky Polish-Russian ties and undermine security.
Washington says the shield is designed to protect the United States and its European allies from so-called "rogue" states like Iran, but Moscow says the U.S. project, to be based in former Soviet satellite states, is a threat to its security.
Plans for the shield added to disputes over energy supplies from Russia and legacies from World War Two to cause a chill in Polish-Russian relations under Warsaw's previous conservative administration.
But since winning an October election, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has promised to reestablish dialogue with Kremlin.
In the highest-level meeting since 2004, Tusk visited Moscow last week to seek to thaw ties and discuss number of issues dividing Warsaw and Moscow, including the missile shield.
Tusk and Putin failed to work out a joint approach to the project -- which also includes a radar facility in the Czech Republic -- but agreed it was Poland's sovereign decision.
(Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Michael Winfrey)
Ping
Good for Poland.
Have they lost so much of their power that 10 interceptor missiles pose a national security threat to them? Do they believe we will strike first and kill off most of their deterrents, then kill off what's left with the interceptors?
I think it’s the psychological impact of having NATO missiles on former territory of the Evil Empire. Some in Russia are too drunk and cold to realize they lost the Cold War.
Poland has had a bellyfull of blackmail from Russia. I’m not sure how to say it in Polish, but “paybacks are a bitchki...”
Do they believe we will strike first and kill off most of their deterrents, then kill off what’s left with the interceptors?==
Exactly. It is what Russia believes. Why? Because Russians beleive that America very aggresive considering how many wars she waged during the times.
Russia is delusional to the point of psychosis.
L
Very old saying: Hope the best but Prepare to worst. The ABM system may be used as the great help in case of the fist strike attack on Russia. So Russia has to have someting to counterbalance such scenario.
Poland’s looking more attractive everyday. I wonder what the real estate market is like there?
L
Yeah yeah you should say that:) Remember “DropShot”? Will you garantee that America doesn’t have something like it today? America prepares to first strike but follows this with the stupid propaganda which cann’t buy even the child:).
Blah blah blah...
Your government has gone mad......again.
L
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