Talks between Poland and the U.S. about installing interceptor missiles on Polish soil have gone on for a number of years with Poland not at all eager to install those missiles.
When Russia invaded Georgia, a deal was reached almost immediately allowing the U.S. to install those interceptor missiles BUT also providing Poland PATRIOT MISSILE BATTERIES along with a small U.S. military presence in Poland. Whoa! This is huge in the whole Russia vs. the world, scheme of things.
At the outset, the missiles in Poland were to be for possible Iranian attacks against the U.S., Europe, Israel, etc. The placement of the missiles in Poland had nothing to do with Russia even though the Russians looked at it that way.
Russia was even asked to join NATO; it refused and warned other former Soviet countries not to join NATO. The original purpose of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was to counter any possible SOVIET aggression in Europe. Since the downfall of the Soviet Union, NATO has been a policeman in Europe (Serbia, Kosovo) as well as elsewhere (Afghanistan).
By invading Georgia, Russia has once again placed itself at odds with the West (NATO) and has caused a mad scramble by countries that fear Russian invasion to join NATO.
Poland is already a member of NATO but when I talked to some of my friends in Poland, they were skeptical about their safety. They reminded me that on the eve of WWII, they also had a mutual defense treaty with France and Britain and look what good that did them; they were invaded by Germany on the west and Russia on the east.
Even after WWII, they were sold to the Soviets by Roosevelt and Churchill for 50 years of Soviet oppression; why should they trust the U.S. and the West to act any differently this time?
It is important to note that the placement of Patriot Missiles on Polish soil by the Americans IS absolutely and specifically an anti-Russian move since the Patriots are short range interceptor missiles designed to protect against missiles fired at Poland, not to intercept missiles fired from Iran at the U.S.
Russia immediately warned Poland that they are now potential targets of a nuclear attack. Well, poor Poland has been in this position before and has been throughout its long history.
Putin is asserting Russia’s new power but he may have hurt himself and Russia in the process. NATO did not want to allow Georgia to join, just yet, as deference to Russia but now that we know the old Russia is back, it is time to form up sides again and admit everybody and anybody that wants the protection NATO can give them. Arms build-up anyone? Here we go again…
When Russia invaded Georgia, a deal was reached almost immediately allowing the U.S. to install those interceptor missiles BUT also providing Poland PATRIOT MISSILE BATTERIES along with a small U.S. military presence in Poland. Whoa! This is huge in the whole Russia vs. the world, scheme of things.
At the outset, the missiles in Poland were to be for possible Iranian attacks against the U.S., Europe, Israel, etc. The placement of the missiles in Poland had nothing to do with Russia even though the Russians looked at it that way.
Russia was even asked to join NATO; it refused and warned other former Soviet countries not to join NATO. The original purpose of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was to counter any possible SOVIET aggression in Europe. Since the downfall of the Soviet Union, NATO has been a policeman in Europe (Serbia, Kosovo) as well as elsewhere (Afghanistan).
By invading Georgia, Russia has once again placed itself at odds with the West (NATO) and has caused a mad scramble by countries that fear Russian invasion to join NATO.
Poland is already a member of NATO but when I talked to some of my friends in Poland, they were skeptical about their safety. They reminded me that on the eve of WWII, they also had a mutual defense treaty with France and Britain and look what good that did them; they were invaded by Germany on the west and Russia on the east.
Even after WWII, they were sold to the Soviets by Roosevelt and Churchill for 50 years of Soviet oppression; why should they trust the U.S. and the West to act any differently this time?
It is important to note that the placement of Patriot Missiles on Polish soil by the Americans IS absolutely and specifically an anti-Russian move since the Patriots are short range interceptor missiles designed to protect against missiles fired at Poland, not to intercept missiles fired from Iran at the U.S.
Russia immediately warned Poland that they are now potential targets of a nuclear attack. Well, poor Poland has been in this position before and has been throughout its long history.
Putin is asserting Russia’s new power but he may have hurt himself and Russia in the process. NATO did not want to allow Georgia to join, just yet, as deference to Russia but now that we know the old Russia is back, it is time to form up sides again and admit everybody and anybody that wants the protection NATO can give them. Arms build-up anyone? Here we go again…
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