No Joke: Poland is our best friend in Europe

The Weekly Standard ^ | 02/03/03 | Matthew Kaminski

[happygrl]

Thanks for posting this article.

I think that FReepers with any interest in traveling to Europe should avoid "Old Europe" and spend their tourist dollars in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Czechoslovakia, all of which have proven to be better friends of America than the rest of Europe.

Of course, Britain is an island, and a good ally.

And for Orianna Falacci and Beurlesconi's sake I'll include Italy on the "friend" list.

OK, Spain, too. Their Prime minister is a conservative and has supported Dubya.

The rest have no honor and no sense of their own civilization.

[Walkingfeather]

good policy article... something I have never thought of... I wonder what Germany would think if we moved our bases to Poland. You think all that cash would get the Poles economy moving..?? Hey I am all for dumping those ingrates!!!

[July 4th]

Great article, and very true about the Polish-American bond as well.

A side story about our relationship with them: I'm from Milwaukee, which has quite a few Poles - many with immediate family back in Poland. I have an aunt who was the first generation of her family to be born in America in the early 60's. She wrote her grandparents numerous letters, and each time she would plead for them to come to America any way that they could. They always said no. Finally, in the early 90's, both grandparents were convinced to visit.

On the drive back to Milwaukee from O'Hare, they stopped to grab a few things at a large supermarket. The grandparents went in to the store, and their jaws dropped. They immediately asked, "Can anyone buy this food?" which was soon followed by "Without any stamps, or rations?" After they heard the answer, they started to cry. I think it was at that point they finally realized the power of freedom.

[Dec31,1999]

Poles are the coolest.

[dfwgator]

Poland knows better than to rely on the French, who didn't do a damn thing to help Poland in her hour of need even after the French declared war on Nazi Germany.

[M. Peach]

I was married to a Cuban woman whose 50 year old uncle made his first visit here from Havana. He had the same reaction when he went into a supermarket. He was about 95 pounds and he had tears in his eyes. He couldn't believe all of the food we had available here to us.

It made me realize how much we take for granted here. When he talked about Cuba - he whisperered as if someone was going to report him....

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks for posting this article. It's truly nice to know we have such good friends in "New Europe". BTW. I think the term "Old Europe" is gonna stick. It'll be known as a "Rummyism".

July 4th, that was a lovely story. My father-in-law is a first generation American born Czech. However, I think when his mother came here, she brought the whole family. We can't have an informal gathering with just her kids and their families without renting a hall!

[Clemenza]

Half-Polish American bump and N'STROWIE to you!

[Clemenza]

Ping!

[Mike Darancette]

I wonder what Germany would think if we moved our bases to Poland.

The German Greens would be delighted, Poland and the Czechs would be delighted (give them some bases too) and it will scare the hell out of the Russians.

Maybe we could get a naval base on the Baltic while we are at it.

[Steel and Fire and Stone]

The Germans, French, and other "old Europeans" have enjoyed a "leadership" monopoly due to the cold war's artificial east-west division. They were the only game in town for the U.S. in our war against the Soviets. Even Britain, historically our closest European ally, has benefitted by being the only game in town, i.e. the least anti-American Europeans. These countries may have been anti-capitalist, i.e. socialists, and secretly hated most of what American's stood for, but they needed us, and we needed them.

With the fall of the U.S.S.R., I think these countries felt less liberated from a Soviet treat, but more from a dependence on the U.S. they despised. Dependency never breeds loyalty. It always makes the dependent resent their provider. I think "old" Europe feels liberated from the U.S., and most Europeans can't wait to tell the U.S. to "go to hell".

Except, when nasty things like Kosovo occur. They realize that the haven't the fortitude and national disposition to defend themselves (after all, what if the war occurred during their six week holiday season; whoever would fight it??). So, the old Europeans will bluster and try to prick the U.S. in every way they can, but in the end, they won't cut the cord. Maybe in a few more years...

So, the development of a newly freed, independent group of European nation states is truely interesting. I think the U.S. must do all it can to help them develop capitalist institutions, and a traditional rule of law (i.e. don't let the American bar anywhere near them).

EVERY time these Eastern European countries come to us as friends, standing on their own feet, we should reward the relationship in spades.

Who knows: Maybe an capital-based economic miracle in those countries can remind our country (i.e. USA) what it means to be truely free (and end the class-warfare rhetoric forever).

Good luck, my Polish, Chek, and other "new" European friends!

Oh, and by all means, move our bases to any European country who feels we're partners rather than occupiers. Let the Germans go back to their radical leftist past (i.e. Hitler's "National SOCIALISTs" were not "right wing", they were just less left wing than the Communists). We'll kick their a** again if need be.

The same applies to our bases in Korea. Move our guys to Taiwan, and out of Korea. Let them enjoy their "reunification" with their "mother" country in the North. The South Koreans can all adopt comrade Kim's new weight watching routine (i.e. eating grass), for all I care. I've been to Korea, made some nice friends there, and would go back to help them in a second, IF the current generation didn't hate American's so much. Let 'em go... We have friends in this world; we don't need to reward and protect those who hate us.

FReegards, SFS

[Steel and Fire and Stone]

"Chek" = "Czech".. sorry, I had the finest public school education..

[Slyfox]

I often think of how lucky we are to have our grocery stores.

[MeekMom]

Really appreciate your post.

[ccmay]

I often think of how lucky we are to have our grocery stores.

Never mind the stores, what about the farmers?

It certainly is a blessing to be liberated from all want and starvation, even for poor people. However, we seem to have gone overboard in the other direction. How astonishing it must be for someone from India or Zimbabwe or Haiti to read about Americans so fat they are having stomach operations to lose weight.

-ccm

[ccmay]

Poles are the coolest.

My dad's RAF fighter wing had Polish squadrons attached during WWII. He had the utmost respect for their fearlessness. They were so brave and hated the Nazis so much that they would sometimes atttempt to collide with a German plane if their guns jammed. I remember telling a Polish joke to him as a young boy, and being reprimanded for insulting his favorite comrades.

-ccm

[Spirited]

"For now, the biggest question mark is whether Poland can get its domestic house in order."

America loves to Polish joke with derission because they make good targets, gentle (for the most part) and forebearing (often characterized here as "dumb"). Poland is only the best friend for the moment in which it is willing to do whatever Uncle Sam wants.

The statement above is a case in point. Poland has needs, we are dangling carrots. How many other countries have had to get any domestic house in order to qualify for the millions we drop in laps. Did Iraq? Did Foxey Mexico? Russia? India? etc. etc.

If it is true that the meek will inherit the earth this is one group of people who qualify by nature. Only God can protect them because they have had no other champion for many centuries and they love the U.S. too much.

[sheik yerbouty]

Poland is a welcome addition in this fight.

[dfwgator]

Do Broni!