Why Poland loves America

BBC ^ | 5/31/03 | Nick Thorpe

[Mark Felton]

Why Poland loves America

By Nick Thorpe
BBC, Warsaw

General Andrzej Tyszkiewicz will head the Polish peacekeepers

President George Bush arrives in Poland on Friday to fete his strongest European ally after the United Kingdom.

These are heady days for the Polish Government, which is enjoying its new weight in international relations.

Mr Bush is just the latest in an unbroken line of US presidents since Richard Nixon, to pay homage to Polish loyalty.

His visit comes as Poland, at the US's invitation, is poised to command one of only three peacekeeping sectors in Iraq - an operation fraught with many risks, and many opportunities.

A great success in Iraq will immediately launch Poland... into the first league of the decision-makers

Defence analyst Wojciech Luczak

"This is a great challenge," says defence analyst Wojciech Luczak.

"A great success in Iraq will immediately launch Poland from the group of the not-so-significant countries in Europe, into the first league of the decision-makers."

He adds: "I deeply trust that we will somehow be lucky, and that we will succeed that mission without any bloodshed."

German anger

But Poland's alliance with the US on Iraq is already having a profound affect on relations between the new and old members of the European Union.

What we are bringing to the European community, this is the confidence of the United States

Marek Siwiec, presidential security adviser

When Poland accepted the mission, its leaders expected that an existing international battalion - including German soldiers - would form the core.

But the Germans said No.

The Polish willingness to take on the role has already angered some German commentators, who accuse her of being a Trojan horse - or more insulting still - a Trojan donkey for the Americans in Europe.

"What does it mean to be an American agent? What does it mean to be donkey? What does it mean to be a Trojan horse, whatever? It doesn't mean anything!" says Marek Siwiec, national security adviser to the Polish President, Aleksander Kwasniewski.

"What we are bringing to the European community, this is the confidence of the United States. And this confidence is very much required to build future transatlantic relations - on one side the United States, on the second side United Europe."

Need for friends

Earlier this year, the Poles bought 46 F-16 fighters from the Americans - in preference to European alternatives - in exchange for massive US investment in their country.

The United States can count on us, and when - hopefully never - a day will come when Poland will need to count on her allies, we will then be able to count on the United States

Daniel Passent, Polityka foreign affairs writer

But they have also been co-operating with Spain on the production of a new aircraft wing - which Poles hail as an important step on the road to incorporating the Polish aerospace industry into a European and Global market.

Daniel Passent, a veteran writer on foreign affairs at the weekly Polityka, says that the Polish decision to get involved in Iraq should be understood above all in the context of Poland's history - her own need, so close to Russia, for powerful friends.

"I think Poland is going to Iraq because it wants to prove to the United States that we are a reliable ally.

"That the United States can count on us, and when - hopefully never - a day will come when Poland will need to count on her allies, we will then be able to count on the United States," he says.

For now though, Poland has the unenviable task of piecing together a stabilisation force of her own - with a little help from Nato.

[ppaul]

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[afuturegovernor]

Poland is an important part in the fight against Old Europe.

[Eaker]

This pic has been added to my little page. I have had hits from 23 countries, none from Poland. If anyone has a contact in Poland please send them the link so that they know how much we appreciate their support.

Thanks,

The Link

[McGavin999]

And America loves Poland because that nation understood that, although we didn't need military assistance, our hearts were wounded by 9-11 and more than anything we needed to know our friends stood with us. Poland understood that from the depth of her heart and as a result Americans will love her as a friend not just an ally.

There are moments in history when things become crystal clear. Iraq was such a moment. Most of the world has not figured this out yet. They will, and then they will discover that nothing can change the fact that when we needed them, they weren't there.

[ppaul]

ping.

[Mark Felton]

I enjoyed your webpage. good job.

[isthisnickcool]

I'm going to start collecting stuff from Poland. How about a motorcycle?

Junak Motorcycles

[Eaker]

Very well stated!

[SkyPilot]

One of my more sincere German friends says he feels tremendous guilt towards what Germany did to Poland in WWII, but more so recently. He says the EU has treated them as badly economically as did the Nazis socially--although I think that is too great a stretch.

My wife has had several trips to Poland--I have not been there except for a mission I flew a few years ago. They are really beginning to get back on their feet economically, and they are hoping for US troops to relocate there.

One thing I wish though--that I visited the Polish flea markets several years back to look for militaria items. I recently started collected edge weapons (daggers, bayonets, etc). Now all the prices are sky high--but a few years ago you could really get bargains.

[isthisnickcool]

English link

[gipper81]

The Poles remember with extreme affection what Ronald Reagan did for them in the 1980s. They were both freedom fighters.

[isthisnickcool]

Polish products

[Arpege92]

I love it when the "Under dog" proves the doubters wrong!!

[nutmeg]

read later bump

[Dolphy]

Daniel Passent, a veteran writer on foreign affairs at the weekly Polityka, says that the Polish decision to get involved in Iraq should be understood above all in the context of Poland's history - her own need, so close to Russia, for powerful friends.

It makes me happy to stand with those who don't take freedom for granted.

[Eaker]

Thank you.

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man."
-- Mark Twain

Thank you for this quote too. I had not seen it before. Sure fits in well with the way we are treated as Americans.

Eaker

[ricpic]

Frankly, I'm a little confused. The title of the article is, Why Poland Loves America. But the body of the article states that Poland is allying itself with the US as a counterweight to it's big next door neighbor, Russia. Not that there is necessarily a contradiction between what the heart feels and what is pragmatic. But the article doesn't really explain the title.

[Destro]

Which is why Poland is currently ruled by the old communists (same party-just changed it's name).

[Destro]

Great point. This article is simplistic drivel. We Americans for some reason seem to think alliances are based on love or something. Everything said of Poland now was said for Turkey just a few months ago (even the Trojan horse part).

The truth of the matter is Poland, a weak nation in the middle of two pwerful ones (Russia, Germany) does what it has always done, seek allies. In the last century that ally was the UK and France. Since those nations are compromised with the EU (and not in a position to challenge Germany) the Poles have gone even further West to America.

Napoleon said a nation's foreign policy is determined by it's geography. In Poland's case that means seeking allies against the influence of Russia and Germany.

No love involved. No stupid Old and New Europe categories.

Freeper's do know that the majority of "new" European countries (like Poland) are ruled by the reformed communist parties that were in power during the Cold War, don't they?