Poland/US Missle Deal: Georgia backlash?

[madanthonywayne]

All of the sudden, the US and Poland have reached a deal on the basing of US missles in Poland.

The United States and Poland reached a long-stalled deal on Thursday to place an American missile defense base on Polish territory, in the strongest reaction so far to Russia's military operation in Georgia.

Russia reacted angrily, saying that the move would worsen relations with the United States that have already been strained severely in the week since Russian troops entered separatist enclaves in Georgia, a close American ally.

A key part of the agreement?

But the deal reflected growing alarm in countries like Poland, once a conquered Soviet client state, about a newly rich and powerful Russia's intentions in its former cold war sphere of power. In fact, negotiations dragged on for 18 months — but were completed only as old memories and new fears surfaced in recent days.

Those fears were codified to some degree in what Polish and American officials characterized as unusual aspects of the final deal: that at least temporarily American soldiers would staff air defense sites in Poland oriented toward Russia, and that the United States would be obliged to defend Poland in case of an attack with greater speed than required under NATO, of which Poland is a member.

Polish officials said the agreement would strengthen the mutual commitment of the United States to defend Poland, and vice versa. "Poland and the Poles do not want to be in alliances in which assistance comes at some point later — it is no good when assistance comes to dead people," the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, said on Polish television. "Poland wants to be in alliances where assistance comes in the very first hours of — knock on wood — any possible conflict."

A senior Pentagon official described an unusual part of this quid pro quo: an American Patriot battery would be moved from Germany to Poland, where it would be operated by a crew of about 100 American military personnel. The expenses would be shared by both nations. American troops would join the Polish military, at least temporarily, at the front lines — facing east toward Russia.

These negotiations have been going on for years, the US and Poland both had their reservations but:

in a sign of the widening repercussions of the conflict in Georgia, those concerns were cast aside, as the offensive by Russia's military across its borders was viewed around the world as a sign of Moscow's determination to reimpose its influence across the old Soviet bloc.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/...e/15poland.php

[Mr. G]

Poland flipped Russia the Bird.

Europe cowers.

All the world's lefties are silent: Abu Ghraib was America's crime; Georgia is Russia's imperative.

Russia is suffering from wishful beta-like issues.

Leftie-like.

[Asguard]

mad, do you honestly think you would honor that deal if it was against your own political interests?

[madanthonywayne]

Of course. Poland is a member of NATO. Not defending them would be the same as not defending England. Also, there will be US soldiers stationed there, and, of course, our missle base.

[Asguard]

i know you want to belive that but seriously, look around. How many troops would the US ACTUALLY commit if it came down to it. My guess would be enough hellicopters to evacuate any troops you have in the country.

[DubStyle]

Of course. Poland is a member of NATO. Not defending them would be the same as not defending England. Also, there will be US soldiers stationed there, and, of course, our missle base.

Worse yet, not defending Poland would pretty much mean the collapse of NATO. God forbid that happens.

I read today that Russia threatened Poland with a nuclear first strike if they put the missile shield there. The Day Before theory might turn out to be true.

The theory goes that if the US were to develop and deploy an effective anti ballistic missile shield that could neutralize Russian missiles, Russia would make a first strike on NATO almost immediately before the system goes online. Scary shit.

Welcome to the new Cold War. I hope the US can grow a set. We've seriously been lacking when it comes to balls recently.

This makes the idea of a Obama presidency all the more frightening. I dont trust him to handle these incompetent radical Muslim terrorists let alone to go toe-to-toe with the friggin Kremlin.

I hope McCain can leverage this new Russian threat to beat that Marxist son of a bitch.

[Challenger78]

Of course. Poland is a member of NATO. Not defending them would be the same as not defending England. Also, there will be US soldiers stationed there, and, of course, our missle base.

You sure ?
Remember when Britain was facing down Germany, and the US was still undecided ? We might have a similar situation here, With the US facing down others such as China and possible Iran, before entering the War.

The United States only looks out for their own, always has and always will.
There is no such thing as Altruism in war. maybe in peace time, such as East Timor, but even that was partially for our own interest.

[DubStyle]

Dude - NATO.

I really dont know how much insight you can take away from that example. NATO can not collapse.

[orcot]

I honnestly believe that no country would turn silend if Russia was to use nuclair weapons on Poland and that the US and even China would join (if they made it a nuclear war)

[Asguard]

orcot what if it wasnt a nuclear strike but a conventional one?

[Mr.Spock]

damned, this russians just cant stop.