Poland Rejects U.S. Missile Defense Offer

Prime Minister Says Country's Security Would Not Be Increased, But Promises To Continue Talks

(AP)  Poland's prime minister said Friday that the latest U.S. offer to persuade his country to accept a missile defense facility is unsatisfactory, but stressed that he expects negotiations to continue.

Donald Tusk said that any deal must increase Poland's security. He said his government believes that the latest offer, made earlier this week, does not fulfill that requirement.

However, Tusk made clear that Warsaw's decision was not a final rejection of the U.S. plan to place 10 missile defense interceptors in Poland as part of a shield against a possible Iranian attack.

"I wouldn't talk about the end, suspension, or interruption," he said at a news conference. "Negotiations, in my opinion, are continuing."

In the U.S., White House spokesman Scott Stanzel also said that "discussions will continue with the Poles on missile defense and other issues."

Russia has vehemently opposed the U.S. plans to place the site in Poland, as well as a linked radar-tracking system in the Czech Republic, and has threatened to target both countries with missiles of its own.

Without citing Russia's opposition to the plan explicitly, Tusk argued that placing a missile defense facility in Poland, a Soviet satellite during the Cold War, would create new security threats.

"The installation of the missile shield in Poland increases above all the security of the United States. That's important for us, for the whole world," Tusk said. "However, the fact that the installation would be built on Polish territory also increases certain risks and threats for Poland."

So far, "in the key issue of increasing Poland's security, we didn't achieve a result that would be satisfactory to Poland," Tusk said. "We are waiting for an answer and declaration from the U.S. side on this key demand."

Poland has demanded the additional security guarantee of a short-range Patriot missile battery on its soil.

Tusk said the latest U.S. offer fell short because it proposed placing a Patriot missile battery in Poland only temporarily, rather than permanently, as Warsaw has demanded.

"Air defense elements that would specifically defend Polish territory are absolutely key for Poland," he said. "A temporary visit by such weapons, guaranteed only for one year, naturally does not increase our sense of security."

Tusk did not say whether there were other sticking points.

Poland's announcement delivers a potential setback to U.S. President George W. Bush's plans to secure the European missile defense system sites before he leaves office in January.

Still, plans for the Czech portion of the proposed shield are progressing more smoothly.

On Friday, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said his government will sign a deal with the U.S. next week on installing the radar in the Czech Republic.

His government said Washington is expected to be represented at the signing by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a visit to the country.

However, such a deal still requires the approval of the Czech parliament, and it remains unclear whether the measure would pass. Missile defense is deeply unpopular among the Czech public, and the vote is parliament is expected to be extremely close.

Tusk stressed that Poland is open to a more generous U.S. deal.

"We are ready at any time to accept changes, corrections, proposals from the U.S. side that take into consideration our demands on strengthening Poland's security," Tusk said. "That can be tomorrow, in a week, in a month."

"I'm ready to close these negotiations under the one condition - an obvious one from my point of view - that the Polish side receives a real security guarantee in the event of the implementation of this project."

In Washington, Sean McCormack, a U.S. State Department spokesman, issued a statement Friday saying an agreement would benefit Poland and NATO, whose nations recently "endorsed this effort and spoke of its importance to the security of the alliance."

[toolmangler-2009]

It''''s Ok for the US to put missles in Poland but Russia can''''t put missles in Cuba.
Posted by SkyFive at 04:25 PM : Jul 05, 2008



One small difference, none of the Polish missles are nuclear tipped,

[edintex]

It''''s Ok for the US to put missles in Poland but Russia can''''t put missles in Cuba.
Posted by SkyFive at 04:25 PM : Jul 05, 2008

Thats RIGHT comrade...what are you & your kind gonna do about it?
The Soviets were putting NUCLEAR tipped missiles in Cuba. The U.S. wants to put CONVENTIONAL tipped missiles in Poland. Not quite the same thing now, is it...COMRADE...

[edintex]

I''''m 50% Polish, and I gleefully look forward to the latest round of "Pollock Jokes", where the punchline is: "The Bush administration!"
Posted by hungry1968 at 06:37 PM : Jul 05, 2008

Judging by your postings, that 50% must be from the moron side of your family tree. It could not possibly be Polish!

[tootall10142]

The polski are some of the most intelligent people on this planet. Why arent they building thier own? why would they we will do it for them and pay them to protect them. We should line them up next to to the remaining communist rat faced *** and drop them like so many grains of sand in a tornado and so them how real socialist *** we can be.

[whiskyrocker]

"Poland Rejects U.S. Missle Defense Offer"

Until more $$$ is offered. Than the Polish will be ready to cooperate.

[jack9235]

Love you Poland!

[hungry1968]

"Poland Rejects U.S. Missile Defense Offer
Prime Minister Says Country''s Security Would Not Be Increased, But Promises To Continue Talks"




I''m 50% Polish, and I gleefully look forward to the latest round of "Pollock Jokes", where the punchline is:

"The Bush administration!"

[whitemale08]

Poland can say what it wants but in the end that missile shield is going up.

Soon Poland''s Prime Minister will suffer a crisis or scandel and be replaced by someone who will invite Obama to come in and install the shield.

Once the missile grid is completed by America''s taxpayers then Poland and all of Europe will pay for their security to the British East Company in Venetian Mafia style.

[ubrew12]

''Missile defense'' for Europe is aimed at starting a new Cold War with Russia. It''s deployment means the U.S. could strike Russia first without fear of retaliation. Russia will counter that with new technology, and the race is off again.

I guess the Global War on Terror is no longer freaking enough Americans out to supply the tax dollars the military-industrial complex needs to fatten its bottom line.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Poland Rejects U.S. Missile Defense Offer''

Good job, Poland.

Tough luck fascists.